Woman Does 1,600 Pull-Ups to Help Malawi Sex Workers

Courtnay Browne's hands were raw and bleeding, her body screaming to stop, but she kept pulling herself up one more time for women she'd never met halfway around the world.

The 43-year-old Oak Creek, Colorado resident spent 11 hours on Saturday doing 1,600 pull-ups to raise money for the Village of Hope in Malawi. The safe house helps women escape sex work in the third-poorest country on Earth, teaching them new skills so they can build different lives.

Just one year ago, Browne completed her first pull-up ever. What started as a personal challenge transformed when she learned about women forced into prostitution to survive in Malawi's Monkey Bay region.

The Village of Hope houses 10 women at a time, teaching them trades and helping them start businesses. Since opening, 100 women have graduated to new lives, but 20 more are waiting for a spot.

A second facility costs $15,000 to build. As of Tuesday, Browne's effort had raised $11,625 through GoFundMe.

More than 25 supporters surrounded Browne during her attempt, feeding her when she couldn't lift her arms and wiping away tears when the pain became overwhelming. Her friend Alicia McCarthy stayed by her side, keeping her focused and present as exhaustion set in.

Browne had originally aimed to break the world record of 4,466 pull-ups in 12 hours. She'd done over 2,000 in training, but Saturday her body gave out much earlier.

Her trainer Sarah Coleman monitored her for rhabdomyolysis, a dangerous condition where overworked muscles break down and release toxins that can damage kidneys. Browne's mother Donna watched in anguish as her daughter pushed through the pain.

When Browne realized she was off pace for the record, she considered stopping. Instead, she kept going for the supporters around her and the women waiting in Malawi.

Why This Inspires

Browne leaves for Malawi in one week with her sister Claire on a service trip through Steamboat Christian Center. There, they'll meet the women whose lives their fundraising is changing.

"Things don't always go as planned and our path is often out of our control," Browne said after finishing. She hasn't decided whether she'll attempt the record again, but she knows she has it in her.

The lesson she's carrying to Africa came from the pull-up bar itself: sometimes the goal changes, but the impact matters more than the numbers.