How One Family’s Gym Became a Community Cause for Animals.
To say that Surge to New Levels Gym in Carol Stream is an animal-friendly gym is a bit of an understatement. Not only can members bring their pets with them when they work out, but the community has also built a lasting tradition around giving back: Doggos & Deadlifts, an annual fundraiser benefiting Anderson Humane has raised a combined $25,296.45 since it began in 2021.
Sergio and Jackie Luna have made giving back part of Surge to New Levels since they opened the gym in 2015. As animal lovers themselves, supporting Anderson Humane felt like a natural fit for their family and their animal-friendly gym community. The couple first learned about the organization while shopping for their three dogs, Delilah, Lily, and Mr. Apples (known as “Bub”), at the Bloomingdale Petco, which houses one of Anderson Humane’s adoption centers.
What started as a single deadlifting fundraiser has grown into a Surge tradition. Each lifter at the non-sanctioned power-lifting event gets sponsors to pledge a donation for every successful lift attempt, and the community has shown up for it year after year, with lifters, families, and animal lovers all pitching in.
In 2026, the event was even more special as Sergio and Jackie’s 4-year-old daughter, Elianna, stepped onto the platform herself, becoming part of a tradition that began before she was born. Friend Paul Pavia, owner of Commercial Tire Services Inc., pledged $0.50 per pound lifted, and the competition lifted a combined total of 6,153 pounds. This brought Paul’s pledge to a total of $3,100, bringing the total raised this year to $5,565.60.
Anderson Humane is grateful to this strong and compassionate community, and to everyone who competed, volunteered, donated, sponsored, or came out to cheer. Together, this community has made a real difference for the animals in our care. We can’t wait to see what new levels you surge to next.
Visit Surge To New Levels at: www.SurgeStronger.com
For more information on Doggos & Deadlifts, go to: www.surgestronger.com/doggos-and-deadlifts-2026
