Fitness Instructor Holds Fundraising Class for Friend

By R. Gabriel Villalobos

When disaster struck her friend and co-worker, a local fitness instructor took action in the way she knew best: she organized a free community workout, inviting participants to donate in support of her friend, who is now facing a battle with breast cancer.

For Sharon Sussman, organizing the event was part of a mission shaped by personal struggle and a deep desire to empower others. The class, held this past Wednesday, was dedicated to supporting her fellow instructor and friend, Marcella GO.

Sharon is a South Pacific Islander from Micronesia who moved to Carlsbad from Seattle just over four years ago. After getting married and having children, she said she fell into a deep depression that led to an unhealthy relationship with sugar.

“I noticed that I was starting to get really sick,” she said.

While working at the Carlsbad Medical Center Emergency Room, Sharon noticed a pattern.

“I saw so many people coming in sick from sugar,” she said. “That’s when I knew I had to make a change.”

That realization led her to group fitness classes at the Carlsbad Recreation Center and eventually to becoming an instructor herself. Sharon is certified in XCO Latin by Jackie and XCO Latino Step, and licensed in STRONG Nation.

XCO Latin by Jackie is a fun, dynamic, full-body workout that blends functional and athletic movement, emphasizing core engagement, natural movement patterns, and Latin rhythms, and is accessible to all fitness levels.

XCO Latino Step combines aerobic step training with XCO Trainers and interval-based movements, offering a high-energy workout adaptable to varying fitness levels.

In addition, Sharon is a licensed STRONG Nation instructor. STRONG Nation is a music-driven, high-intensity interval training program that uses bodyweight exercises combined with athletic movement and fighting elements, all synchronized to the beat of the music.

“I figured I might as well give it back to the public,” Sharon said.

The fundraising event marked the third major community fitness event Sharon has organized in Carlsbad since 2023. Her first public event took place outside the Carlsbad Recreation Center, where she brought in a master trainer and charged participants a $25 fee to attend.

Since hosting events at the recreation center, Sharon has chosen to make her classes free and open to the public. In those cases, she personally covers instructor and master trainer fees out of pocket. Any donations collected at the most recent event are being passed directly to Marcella.

“She’s incredibly inspiring,” Sharon said. “She has a heart of gold, and I just wanted to return the favor in the best way I could.”

Despite her diagnosis, Marcella led the class herself.

“She’s not letting it hurt her spirit,” Sharon said. “She’s doing everything she can to take care of herself.”

Sharon said the generosity of her class community has helped sustain her efforts. Participants often choose to donate after events, and those funds are reinvested into the community through appreciation gatherings, challenge-winner celebrations, and special events.

Her advocacy for wellness extends beyond physical fitness. Sharon believes health is holistic, encompassing the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical aspects of life. She credits her faith and commitment to self-care with strengthening her relationship with God.

A central part of her mission is women’s empowerment and fostering a supportive community. “When women truly support one another, it changes everything,” she said.

Last Wednesday’s class reflected those values: a free, energizing workout that served as both community support and an act of solidarity.

“It makes me emotional,” Sharon said. “I just want women to take better care of themselves—in every way.”