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Wednesday Sep 26, 2018
Boxer in Training: Sophie Morgan
You’ve heard who they are and why they’re fighting. But now that we’re over the halfway mark until the big night on October 10th, things have started to pick up a bit. Training is getting more intense. They’ve been punched in the face. Most have had a bloody nose here or there, their diets have changed, and boxing is becoming an everyday part of their lives. So we figured it was about time to check back in and see how things have been going. Sophie Morgan has been putting in work at EverybodyFights and below you’ll hear about her first time sparring and more about his experience with Haymakers thus far.We’re halfway to fight night, how is your training coming along? On a good day, training is great. On a bad day, I feel like I’ve never stepped foot in the ring. But I wouldn’t change the ups and downs. Nobody can prepare you for how mentally taxing the sport is, but pushing through the sessions where you’re exhausted, both physically and emotionally, are almost more rewarding.What is your weekly routine? I do mitt work three mornings each week, run three times and try to spar twice. We have team training Tuesday nights and it’s a great way to push each other and laugh about how tired and sore we are.How has your diet changed since training began? I used to eat at least 3 pints of ice cream and a bag of white chocolate chips (<333) a week... and I really miss it all. I’m definitely eating a lot more than I have before but it’s all really healthy. I’ve fallen in love with sugar snap peas, but pretty sure they’re just a placeholder until I get my desserts back.Tell us about your first-time sparring, different than expected? It was a lot different than I expected. I was really good at hitting a heavy bag, but getting in the ring and having your target move (and throwback) was entirely different.What has been the most challenging part of sticking to the routine and training so far? I thought balancing my social life would be hard, but it has actually been balancing my work life. I have a pretty demanding job so I struggle with missing training sessions because of last minute assignments. There’s always something I could be doing to improve my boxing skills but sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day.What does your family think of your participation? My parents are supportive to an extent. I think it’s hard for any parent to know their child is stepping in the ring and could potentially get hurt.Donate to Sophie or purchase a ticket to Belles of the Brawl V on October 10th!
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Wednesday Sep 26, 2018
Fighting For Myself
Why fight? For my grandfather who didn’t get the chance to walk my mom down the aisle. For my aunt and cousin who will get the chance to watch their kids grow to become adults but always be left wondering if it will come back. For my future kids who will inherit a mutated chromosome from their mother. For myself.I have always been an individual who has struggled with stomach issues. But this felt different. Something wasn’t right. I called my doctor. She gave me two options, 1: wait it out, it probably isn’t anything 2: schedule a partial colonoscopy. My brain told me option 1, this is ridiculous but my gut told me option 2.Two weeks later I was being wheeled into the procedure room. Within minutes after the procedure I was being told further testing was necessary. They had found 18 large polyps. I would have to wait for the results to hear what type of cells they were.I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know how to feel. My brain scrambled for something to hold on to.Test results were in. Dana Farber would be my next stop. Genetic Testing would need to be done. We had to find the reason why at 27, I had pre-cancerous polyps.Dana Farber called the following week with the results of the Genetic Blood test. I learned that I had tested positive for a genetic mutation known as MYH-associated polyposis (MAP), a mutation of 2 chromosomes (one from each parent) that increases your risk of Colon Cancer.As I hung up the phone, the song Three Little Birds came on saying “Don’t worry about a thing, cause every little thing will be alright.” I was going to be okay. My doctor and I put together a preventative plan. While I am not looking forward to a colonoscopy every year, I am okay. I do not have cancer. I often stop myself today and remember that if I had not listened to my body, I would not be able to say this.There are moments when I am sitting alone, thinking to myself, pondering, how many people felt something was wrong but were too stubborn to go to the doctor or believed that cancer wouldn’t and couldn’t happen to them.I want what happened to me to bring awareness to others. To let people know that if you feel something, find the reason why. It could give you the chance to live another day. To come up with a preventive plan instead of a plan on how to fight.A portion of my donations will be going to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) Genetics Center. There is still so much to be learned. While most genetic disorders aren’t curable, genetic research has provided and will continue to provide groundbreaking treatments for those found to have genetic mutations associated with the disease. The hope is to one day, have more personalized disease treatments, while finding new ways to improve the speed and accuracy of genetic testing.Danielle will be participating in this year's Belles of the Brawl on Wednesday, October 10th at Boston's House of Blues.
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Wednesday Sep 26, 2018
Does it Hurt to Get Punched?
As female fighters, the boxers competing in the Belles of Brawl in Boston get a lot of questions that men in the sport don't ever have to contend with. We asked some of the 2018 Belles how they field the silly, serious, and sometimes ignorant questions about women in boxing. Does it hurt to get punched?“Depends who’s doing the punching!” -Stephanie Rokitowski“It’s an odd feeling — it’s not so much a sharp pain like you’d assume, but more of a pain in the sense that your body definitely doesn’t want it to happen again. And then it does.” -Sophie Morgan Do you use makeup to cover up bumps and bruises?“Nope. Battle wounds are part of the process.” -Carolyn Malloy“Hell no! I earned those damn battle wounds from working hard! Might as well show them off and be proud!” -Michele Wescott Are you worried about getting your nose broken?“Absolutely. It’s on my list of fears behind getting knocked out and tripping getting into the ring.” -Sophie Morgan Do you spar with guys?“Pretty much all I spar with. There aren't many females available to spar with for training. It's a treat when we all get together.” -Stephanie Rokitowski“Yes I do. It's good practice to learn to spar with different opponents. Any sparring practice is better than nothing so I take what I can get.” -Michele Wescott Are you worried your arms are going to get too bulky?“Never.” -Denise Lavino“NEVER! It's all about the sexy arms and back! Be proud and show them off!” -Michele Wescott Do you ever cry in the ring?“No comment.” -Carolyn Malloy“Not in the ring!!” -Denise Lavino“I cried for the first time this week. It’s hard to get in the ring and put your heart on the line, your emotions will inevitably come into play.” -Sophie Morgan What do your family and friends think about you boxing? What about your partner? Could you win over him/her in a fight?“Everyone thinks I'm absolutely crazy, BUT they are very proud of me for doing something so out of my comfort zone. They are all very supportive and think I'm going to CRUSH IT! My husband is not worried at all - he thinks I've trained hard and definitely can do it. And yes, I absolutely could beat him in a fight. He doesn't even want to hold mitts for me at times!” -Michele Wescott“My parents are supportive to an extent. I think it’s hard for any parent to know their child is stepping in the ring and could potentially get hurt.” -Sophie Morgan“They think I'm out of my mind.” -Carlyn Malloy“My mother wishes I wouldn't. My friends are still in disbelief (until recently one thought it was fake fighting) and my boyfriend thinks it's kinda cool.... And yes I would definitely win in a fight.” -Stephanie Rokitowski“Everyone has a different opinion and reaction depending on who you ask, some are positive, some are negative!!...My husband could not be anymore supportive & happy for me, he attends everyone of my sparring sessions!!...My husband is a big guy he would definitely kick my ass..lol!!” -Denise Lavino What are some of the questions you wish people would ask female fighters?“People have asked me pretty much every question there is to be asked, whether it has been good or not so good...I just answer all of them with a smile.” -Denise Lavino“What's your favorite/best punch to throw? How long did you train before getting in the ring to spar?” -Stephanie Rokitowski“I wish they’d ask more questions about how we might be affecting others. We’re doing this in the wake of the #MeToo movement and fights for equal pay and equal rights for women, and it would be nice to see how some of our training and fighting has, or can, affect younger generations.” -Sophie Morgan "What do you do for recovery days to help with muscle soreness? What is your biggest fear? What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it? How do you keep all your hair up under your headgear? Do you embrace being covered in sweat and smell during training or are you mortified? -Michele Wescott WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE KENT
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Tuesday Sep 25, 2018
Training Partners
Practicing the sweet science is notoriously lonely, but some Haymakers for Hope fighters are finding unlikely friendships in the ring.Two fighters out of Grealish Gym, Jenna Taylor and Claudia Rosenblatt, have seen the power of a strong training partner firsthand. The two women met when they both signed up to fight in the 2018 Belles of the Brawl Fight Night in Boston.“I don’t know how I would do this without her,” Jenna said of Claudia. “She keeps me sane. We’re always at the gym together, I’ve never trained without her.” Claudia agrees. “You really learn a lot about a person going through this thing together. Anytime we get discouraged or have questions, it’s nice to have a sounding board, someone going through the same struggles.”The months leading up to Fight Night haven’t been all struggle, though. Claudia and Jenna’s tales of training are overwhelmingly positive and when they’re not finishing each other’s sentences, they’re giggling over their shared gym capers. But don’t be fooled; Jenna and Claudia aren’t laughing their way to fight night. Their training is intense and they each have a front row seat to the others’ determination to win.Claudia said, “I’m terrified of Jenna’s punches. She always comes in ready to go. She’s fierce with her fighting, she has an edge and an attitude. It helps her with intimidation.”Jenna’s equally inspired by her teammate’s work ethic. “She’ll stand there and shadowbox when everyone else is chatting. Everyday she learns something, absorbs it, and brings it with her the next day. I’m scared to get in the ring with her. In the beginning, we were same level, but now we really spar.”As Fight Night approaches, both fighters speak with gratitude about having a partner along for the ride. “It’s a totally different type of friendship you form,” Claudia points out. “You can’t describe it to other people, they don’t understand unless they’ve been through it.”In the last few, intense training weeks, they’re both appreciative of a training partner who keeps them accountable to train, even on long, tiring days when they’d rather head home for a drink… Not that they’re hitting the pints right now. The girls agreed to lay off the alcohol during the last few weeks of training before the fight, and true to form, they’re doing it side by side. Jenna summed up their booze pact, but it seems relevant to their friendship, too: “If we go down, we’re going down together.”
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Thursday Sep 20, 2018
The Fighting Family
When Stacy MacQuarrie signed up to fight in Boston's Belles of the Brawl 2018 event, no one in her life was surprised. Stacy’s a self-described “intense, Type-A person” with a long love for boxing, and she has always wanted to get in the ring. She’s also no stranger to tough fights; Stacy and her family spent the last year supporting her husband’s battle with cancer.January 2017 found Stacy and Jamie--parents to four young children--both working full-time jobs and deeply involved with their kids and community. Jamie had completed three triathlons the previous summer. At a routine doctor’s appointment late that month, the couple received Jamie’s cancer diagnosis.“Your brain goes all these places,” Stacy remembers. “Am I going to raise kids on my own? Is my husband going to die?”Despite the initial fear, the MacQuarries powered through. The whole family rallied together. Be Brave became something of a household mantra. Stacy bought a piece of art with the phrase and put it on display in their home, and it helped Jamie focused his strength on getting better and managing the treatments. Stacy was especially moved by her children at the time. “Our kids are used to seeing him as the strong, athletic coach dad. It was really hard for him not to be involved in that way, but he and I both kept it together for our kids.” James, Stella, Joseph, and Santina understood their dad was sick and jumped in to help their mom.That’s not to say 2017 was an easy year; almost every step of Jamie’s treatment faced complications. “That summer was just so tough,” Stacy says. “I was all of a sudden a stay-at-home mom. I remember getting ready for that school year and just wondering how we were going to get through this.”This January, Jamie was declared cancer-free. He's still undergoing oxygen therapy treatments to keep healing, but the family is cautiously optimistic. When Stacy talks about the past twelve months, you can tell that her family’s year of fighting took a lot out of them. Still, the overwhelming sense is that the MacQuarries rose to the occasion and fought like hell. Stacy’s quick to throw gratitude to the people in their corner, too. Both her and Jamie’s employers were overwhelmingly supportive and she says they wouldn’t have survived the year without the Braintree community where they live.The MacQuarries also express their thanks to Marisa’s Mission, a non-profit organization that assists patients and families affected by cancer. After giving the family a grant last year, they reached out to Stacy to see if she’d be interested in representing them as a fighter in the Haymakers for Hope Fight Night.Jamie and the kids are thrilled she’s participating. Her nine-year-old daughter Stella even comes to the gym. “It's been a nice distraction for our family. There's a lot of stuff that comes with cancer that people don't talk about. It brings out good, it brings out bad, it can be shocking. That's the stuff that's actually happening and that has motivated me. It gets emotional.”Training for the fight has been tough, but after 2017, Stacy’s prepared for anything. “I think about Jamie. He hit every bump in the road. If Jamie can do what he's done, I can handle six minutes in the ring. I'm so excited for the event, but then being able to help this organization that was really there for us is just a bonus. I'm so happy all around.”
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Tuesday Sep 18, 2018
Hope NYC VII: Stephen Gill
During the coming months, we’ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Hope NYC in NYC on November 15th. They’ve committed to four months of fundraising and training in preparation to get in the ring and literally fight for a cure. Whether they've had first hand experience, their father has passed or their friend has put up a victory against the disease – they’ve all got a story to tell and they’ve all got a reason to fight. Below you’ll hear from Stephen Gill, fighting out of Church Street Boxing Gym in New York City.Where are you from? Born and raised suburbs of Boston, MA. I live now with my family in Monmouth County, NJ, down the shore.Where did you go to college? UMass AmherstDid you play any sports growing up? The usual New England sports..Soccer, football, lacrosse, skiingWhat do you do for work? I head up the relationship management team for a division of my firm.Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? I have no idea why boxing, other than that I thought it was a great original idea for a cause close to my heart and one form of conditioning I've never tried. The thought of boxing in the past may have crossed my mind, briefly, but no I don't picture myself as a fighter. Although, growing up as the baby in a family of 3 boys I was pretty much tossed around on a regular basis... so I got used to that; getting back up and standing up for myself I guess you could say.Why on earth did you sign up to fight? My wife Gina went through hell when she was diagnosed. She was so positive mentally and fought hard to stay focused and not have the disease take over; very metaphoric to boxing. I figured I could channel that same energy and raise money at the same time to support the cause. I then thought of the countless list of others I knew who have had their lives derailed, including my sister-in-law who was diagnosed around sign up time, so I had to do it or I'd regret it for sure. You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure – where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you? All the friends, family and colleagues who are diagnosed and impacted. Of course, my number one inspiration is my wife who is everything cancer is not. Really the nicest, selfless and sympathetic person you will ever come across, who went through such a dark life altering journey that I joined her on, right by her side. I don't have to think too hard or close my eyes too long to remember the memories from those years, which isn't necessarily a bad thing as it keeps us in check going forward, reminding us what really matters in life. Don't forget of course my children, Aidan and Amber, whom I constantly remind that they can be anything in life simply with direction, very relatable to my experience stepping in the ring. I also can't forget that without my daughter, we may have never discovered Gina was sick. So no matter how bad of a teenager she may turn out to be, she's got a perpetual "Get Out of Jail for Free" card from me. But please don't tell her that.What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? The usual 'dad diet': burgers, wings, beer, pizza, etcWhen you’re not throwing punches and training - what other hobbies/interests do you have? Playing the guitar, piano, and finding new things to experience with my family.Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? Not sure, there's a few at the top. I can tell you who is the least excited...my wife. Be sure to check out his fundraising page and wish him luck! Best of luck, Stephen!
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Tuesday Sep 18, 2018
Hope NYC VII: Stew Paterson
During the coming months, we’ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Hope NYC in NYC on November 15th. They’ve committed to four months of fundraising and training in preparation to get in the ring and literally fight for a cure. Whether they've had first hand experience, their father has passed or their friend has put up a victory against the disease – they’ve all got a story to tell and they’ve all got a reason to fight. Below you’ll hear from Stew Paterson, fighting out of Gotham Gym in New York City.Where are you from? Halifax, Nova ScotiaWhere did you go to college? Acadia University & Dalhousie UniversityDid you play any sports growing up? HockeyWhat do you do for work? Corporate Bond SalesWhy boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? Boxing began for me a couple years ago as a means to combat the monotony of running on a treadmill or doing weights, but the little improvements I noticed became addictive, and I moved on from boxing based cardio classes to hitting the bag solo. There was certainly never any pre-conceived notions of turning it into an amateur fight until I saw and heard about the experiences some of the folks at Gotham went through with Haymakers last year.Why on earth did you sign up to fight? I've been pretty committed over the past 4 or 5 years to raising funds for cancer based research through the Movember foundation, and I always believed it was important to find unique and captivating ways to ask for donations. Certainly walking around publicly with a red moustache had it's challenges, but I felt that the demands of signing up for Haymakers, both physically and mentally, were a natural progression to continuing the fight against cancer.You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure – where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you? As I've been reading these fighter profiles over the past number of weeks, it has proven a stark reminder the sheer breadth of cancers reach and how malevolent it truly is. So while I draw motivation from the commitment all of these fighters have made to fight for their friends and families, along with all those I know have been touched by cancer in some form, it is my father, who just last week found out his cancer has returned, whom I will be drawing my inspiration from.What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? Due to the 'clean shaven' rule of the NY State amateur boxing association, I'll probably miss growing out my moustache this Movember, but aside from that I'm just going to miss those times after a long days work when it used to be "ok" to duck out on a workout.When you’re not throwing punches and training - what other hobbies/interests do you have? I've recently gotten into scuba diving, so I have a couple trips in the next 6 months to expand on that hobby. Otherwise time well spent for me usually consists of a horizontal position on the couch and a good book.Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? Probably the boys coming down from Halifax. My girlfriend is surprisingly amped up for this too it seems... Be sure to check out his fundraising page and wish him luck! Best of luck, Stew!
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Tuesday Sep 18, 2018
Hope NYC VII: Cyrus Weisberg
During the coming months, we’ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Hope NYC in NYC on November 15th. They’ve committed to four months of fundraising and training in preparation to get in the ring and literally fight for a cure. Whether they've had first hand experience, their father has passed or their friend has put up a victory against the disease – they’ve all got a story to tell and they’ve all got a reason to fight. Below you’ll hear from Cyrus Weisberg, fighting out of Mendez Boxing in New York City.Where are you from? Grew up in 9 countries...we moved every couple of yearsWhere did you go to college? University of PennsylvaniaDid you play any sports growing up? Soccer, basketball, skiingWhat do you do for work? Analyst at a hedge fund during the day, then I play in a cover band at nightWhy boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? I took a self-defense class after being attacked on the street in college. Enjoyed it and followed that into Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Eventually, I wanted to try a striking-based martial art.Why on earth did you sign up to fight? Passionate about the cause and always looking for new adventures.You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure – where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you? Cancer has afflicted some of my family members and friends. It is a terrible disease. I am just trying to do what little I can to help find a cure.What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? Travel - earlier this year I climbed a small mountain in the Arctic Circle and hiked around the North Dakota Badlands. I try to take as many trips as possible and the training regimen fills my weekends.When you’re not throwing punches and training - what other hobbies/interests do you have? I play guitar in Gnarly Rae Jepsen, a local NYC 90s cover band. We play in various bars around the city, and do our best to be a fun live show. If you like live music and 90s rock and pop, please do come party with us.Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? Too many to mention! Be sure to check out his fundraising page and wish him luck! Best of luck, Cyrus!
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Tuesday Sep 18, 2018
Hope NYC VII: Andrew Neelan
During the coming months, we’ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Hope NYC in NYC on November 15th. They’ve committed to four months of fundraising and training in preparation to get in the ring and literally fight for a cure. Whether they've had first hand experience, their father has passed or their friend has put up a victory against the disease – they’ve all got a story to tell and they’ve all got a reason to fight. Below you’ll hear from Andrew Neelon, fighting out of Mendez Boxing in New York City.Where are you from? Cape Cod, MAWhere did you go to college? University of VirginiaDid you play any sports growing up? Ran track and field (400m hurdles was my jam), and did kenpo karateWhat do you do for work? Chief of Staff at BonobosWhy boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? I've done various styles of combat sports growing up (multiple karate styles, muay thai, BJJ) but never boxing - so punching has unsurprisingly always been the weakest aspect of my fighting.Why on earth did you sign up to fight? Two things on my bucket list this year are to get more involved with charitable/philanthropic activities and to participate in an amateur bout of some sort (which honestly I didn't think I'd actually end up doing). At the time I had this thought, I thought I'd fight in muay thai. But I've always wanted to learn how to box too, so this checked a lot boxes!You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure – where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you? A couple family members have unfortunately suffered from, but thankfully beat, cancer. They've never directly spoken about it, but I know they went through a grueling recovery process. I'm more than happy to get beat up if that means cancer is too!What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? Definitely sleeping in late and happy hours during the week.When you’re not throwing punches and training - what other hobbies/interests do you have? Generally exploring NYC with friends - seeing new shows, breweries, museums, etc. There's never a shortage of fun things to do here!Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? Definitely my college friends. Be sure to check out his fundraising page and wish him luck! Best of luck, Andrew!
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Tuesday Sep 18, 2018
Hope NYC VII: Luke Frankson
During the coming months, we’ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Hope NYC in NYC on November 15th. They’ve committed to four months of fundraising and training in preparation to get in the ring and literally fight for a cure. Whether they've had first hand experience, their father has passed or their friend has put up a victory against the disease – they’ve all got a story to tell and they’ve all got a reason to fight. Below you’ll hear from Luke Frankson, fighting out of Mendez Boxing in New York City.Where are you from? Kingston, JamaicaWhere did you go to college? Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NYDid you play any sports growing up? Ran track in high school, played rugby in collegeWhat do you do for work? I am an attorney. I am an associate at Sidley Austin LLPWhy boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? Not really. I have always been fascinated by the sport, but never thought I would actually be stepping into the ring to go toe to toe.Why on earth did you sign up to fight? I signed up because it is a great cause and one that I care about very much. Also, it is a personal challenge, and I want to see if I can rise to meet it. Finally, I resolved to be more of a doer than a talker this year, so here we go.You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure – where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you? I'm drawing inspiration from the memories of the family members I've lost to cancer. My aunt, someone who helped raise me, lost her battle at the end of 2015. Another aunt of mine passed on at the end of 2017. They were both vibrant, dynamic, and beautiful people. I watched the disease sap the strength from their bodies, but throughout it all they were both positive, dignified, and indelibly themselves. Cancer took their health and eventually their lives, but it didn't change who they were as people. If I can take half the strength they had with me into the ring then I'll feel like I honored them, regardless of the outcome.What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? Probably the time that I would otherwise spend relaxing. I don't have much of that as it is, but for the next few months I'll be devoting it to training.When you’re not throwing punches and training - what other hobbies/interests do you have? Learning to play the guitar and learning to speak Spanish. I also like to spend my time traveling and cooking.Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? Probably a toss up between my friends Akshay and Dre. They have my best interest at heart, but you'd never know it from watching us interact. Be sure to check out his fundraising page and wish him luck! Best of luck, Luke!
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