Why a Briggs & Stratton Generator is a Necessity for the Askren Family
For the Askren family, maintaining a secure, stable, and perfectly climate-controlled home has recently become a matter of vital importance. Ben Askren is a name that many people will recognize. Ben "Funky" Askren is one of the most unique and accomplished figures in modern combat sports. Askren revolutionized the sport of wrestling with an unorthodox scrambling style known as "The Funk.” And in addition to being a two time NCAA Division I wrestling champion (four time All American), a four time undefeated mixed martial arts (MMA) world champion, and UFC legend, Askren also represented the United States for freestyle wrestling in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. All of his training would play a role in preparing him for a fight for his life.
During the summer of 2025 Askren contracted an aggressive staph infection that turned into an acute case of pneumonia. As a result, Ben Askren underwent a double lung transplant and spent nearly two months recovering in the hospital. Since then, he has continued his rehabilitation at home. In the past, the family would go to a family member’s home during power outages. But that was no longer a viable option as his immune compromised condition and medical equipment made travel challenging. It’s during this time the family considered the impact a power outage could have on Ben’s health. A sudden grid failure is no longer just a mere inconvenience—it is a serious medical risk that could compromise the crucial climate control and recovery equipment he relies on today.
Since retiring from professional sports in 2019, Ben has dedicated his life to giving back, helping young wrestlers achieve their goals and build resilience through the Askren Wrestling Academy. When Ben faced the toughest fight of his life, that same southeastern Wisconsin wrestling community immediately rallied behind him and his family.
Joe Rubens, VP of Sales at Briggs & Stratton, is a proud member of that community. His son is one of the many young athletes coached by Ben, and when Joe learned about the family's health crisis, he wanted to help. With over 25 years of experience in the standby power industry, Joe understood that a premium home backup power solution was the best way to provide peace of mind for the Askren family.
To ensure their home would remain a fully powered safe haven, Joe secured a Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect+ 26kW home standby generator. Roman Electric, a local Briggs & Stratton dealer, stepped up to contribute the installation completely free of charge.
"Ben has medical equipment that requires constant power to run. On top of that, their house relies on a well, so no electricity means no water. Seeing how vulnerable they'd be in a blackout, I knew we had to make sure they had a backup power source that would never fail them. " – Joe Rubens, VP of Sales
PowerProtect+ standby generators are the ultimate solution for securing the safety and protection of your home’s electricity. With 64 design and engineering enhancements, every detail is created to deliver superior reliability, quality, and longevity.
For a household with critical medical and HVAC needs, robust motor starting capability is essential to keep heavy-duty appliances running without dropping power. Our PowerProtect+ 26kW model delivers 19% more starting power than Generac's 26kW unit and 11% more motor starting power than their 28kW.
"We’re on a well here. So, if the electricity goes out, you can’t do anything. You can’t take a shower, you can’t go to the bathroom…and when you come home and your life’s already hard because you’re making accommodations for yourself, that’s a serious problem." – Ben Askren
"Knowing that we have a generator is one huge thing off our plate, which means a lot to both of us, ” – Amy Askren
With their PowerProtect+ 26kW generator, the Askren family has one less thing to worry about and can dedicate their energy to Ben's continued recovery and their family.