Connect How did your love story begin?

We are deeply passionate about one thing first: helping others. One in mental health, one in movement- we connected through an opportunity for us to bring both of those together in a charity fundraiser meant to bring awareness to mental health in our community through movement and conversation. A Spartan race through the woods of Asheville, a romantic escapade through the city, and a true first date after, led to a deep dive into new doggos, serving our community, and a life of travel.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

Probably our first international trip together - a pre-Covid getaway in Belize. We stayed in a little town off the beaten path where we got to immerse ourselves in the culture without all the buzz of tourism. Sitting on the balcony of our rental, we both realized how well we vibe together. Neither of us wanted to kill the other traveling together for the first time, and we still liked each other after. We ended up getting married in that same town 4 years later.

What would you do with $20,000?

$20,000 would allow us more capacity to spend time together without the stress of "no work no pay" as small business owners. Brooke provides mental health counseling through her own practice, specializing in trauma and PTSD, whereas Blake owns and runs a fitness facility focused on building diverse community, helping people return to movement following injury, while maintaining providing a space for the special needs community to discover their strength and confidence.