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Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Making First Descents into Haymakers
What drives you to fight? What drives you to live? As Haymakers for Hope heads west to Denver, we are extremely excited to share the story of an organization that is leading the charge in survivorship, using outdoor adventure as a prescription in the fight against cancer. First Descents helps young adults outlive their diagnoses through the promotion of an active lifestyle, outdoor recreation and an incredible network of leaders, peers and alumni.What does First Descents fight for? More than anything, First Descents fights to empower young adults impacted by cancer to outlive their diagnoses, and connect with others doing the same. First Descents programs are the catalyst for participants to reconnect with the strength of their bodies, imbuing them with confidence to adventure on and embrace the Out Living It lifestyle.First Descents is becoming the world leader in adventure-based healing. We are redrawing the cancer treatment journey by prescribing adventure as a critical step on the path to long term wellness. The FD community experiences the healing power of adventure first hand, and First Descents alumni continue to adventure on long after their first program through our Local Adventure Communities, International FDx Adventures, and the Out Living It project.What are the similarities between your mission and boxing?First Descents holds a deep understanding of the connection between mental and physical health. When we feel physically challenged, our mental resilience is called upon and activated. Physical challenges empower us to realize our own strength. From kayaking to yoga to boxing, the FD community attests day in and day out to the positive effects of overcoming mental and physical challenge.First Descents participants also share the common experience of coming face-to-face with cancer. Each FD participant has chosen to redefine the “fight” with cancer, and use their experience as an opportunity to live an adventurous lifestyle filled with meaningful community connections.Why is Denver the best place for Haymakers for Hope? Active lifestyle is at the core of Denver’s identity. Colorado companies and community members enthusiastically spread a culture of healthy living and philanthropic innovation. This culture, combined with a robust non-profit sector, makes Denver the ideal location for H4H.As the non-profit category winner of CoBiz Magazine’s 2017 Top Company awards, First Descents can attest to the culture of philanthropy in Colorado. We know first-hand how passionately Coloradans give back to their community, especially to organizations like FD and H4H, which reflect Denver’s core values of fitness, health, and improved quality of life.What do you want our community to know about FD? First Descents is committed to extending the healing power of adventure to all young adults impacted by cancer. Our participants experience free outdoor adventure programs that empower them to climb, paddle, and surf beyond their diagnosis, reclaim their lives, and connect with others doing the same. First Descents programs have proven to improve body image, self-compassion and self-esteem while reducing depression, alienation, and fatigue. Above all, we inspire young adults impacted by cancer to get #OutLivingIt.How can our athletes join your fight?Fundraising for FD through your H4H fight is a great way to start Out Living It with First Descents. Join FD’s Out Living It Project (OLIP) to add special meaning to your upcoming fight, or your other adventures, competitions and events. In the spirit of the OLIP, visit www.firstdescents.org to start fundraising, donating, or volunteering with First Descents. This is your opportunity to spread the healing power of adventure to young adults impacted by cancer.The steps to create an OLIP are easy:1. Go to firstdescents.org and click Out Living It Project at www.firstdescents.org/out-living-it/2. Pick a challenge, any challenge, and start a fundraising page.3. Tell your friends, and start raising money to help provide First Descents programs for young adults impacted by cancer.____
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Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Rock 'N Rumble VIII: David Callies
During the coming months, we’ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Rock ‘N Rumble VIII in Boston on May 17th. They’ve committed to four months of fundraising and training in preparation to get in the ring and literally fight for a cure. Whether their mom is battling, 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 David Callies, fighting out of the Sommerville Boxing Club.Where are you from? Kissimmee, FloridaWhere’d you go to college? University of Central Florida Did you play any sports growing up? I played soccer.What do you do for work? Software Engineering at Facebook. Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? At Facebook (where I work), our facilities manager was a Golden Gloves winner from Lynn named Alex Falcon. He was extremely excited about boxing, and gave free lessons for anyone who was interested. Alex is a talented and passionate teacher, and it didn't take long at all until I was hooked. I never pictured myself fighting myself though - Alex occasionally mentioned it as a possibility, and my goal was maybe to spar someday. Why on earth did you sign up to fight?? Haymakers for Hope just happened to be the perfect confluence of factors. One, everyone has to fight. Two, everyone who is fighting has never fought before. Three, it was for charity, and for something that personally affected me. You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure - where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you? My younger sister was diagnosed with, and was treated for Wilms' Tumor when I was in middle school. This was incredibly tough on my family, and if it wasn't for my mother's health insurance (she works as a visiting nurse), things could have gone poorly. However, it's been over a decade cancer free at this point.What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? (beer, cheeseburgers, time spent watching TV?) For me, it's going to be time. I'm a bit of a workaholic, and my gym has hours only from 4pm-8pm, and I'm expecting 2+ hour sessions every weekday. This means I'm going to have to rearrange my schedule a bit. Staying dedicated and breaking away from work is going to be tough.When you’re not throwing punches and training -- what other hobbies/interests do you have? I'm a big fan of science fiction, on my vacation recently I made it through three new books, and I try and catch every sci fi that ends in theaters. I try and get a physical copy of any book that I've enjoyed enough to recommend.Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? Definite the guy who got me into this, Alex Falcon. I know he's going to be rooting hard for me, and I'm looking forward to showing off where his first lessons end up getting me!Be sure to check out his fundraising page here and wish him luck! Best of luck, David!
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Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Off to The Ring to see Frankie...
Yesterday, the Haymakers team made their way to The Ring Boxing Club on Commonwealth Ave to see Frankie Stavrianopoulos. With two weeks until the big fight, Frankie is feeling the heat! He had his game face on, and we only managed a couple of giggles out of him! After warming up, Frankie got in the ring for a few 3 minute rounds of sparring. The whole place gets filled with excitement when Frankie throws his fists of fury! For such a nice person, we are always amazed at how much rage this guy unleashes! To help Frankie in his last couple weeks of training, click here! And be sure to buy tickets and see Frankie fight in Haymakers for Hope's Rock 'n Rumble at House of Blues Boston on May 17th!
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Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Stopping in on Peter Goodall at Fitness Advantage
Last night the Haymakers team stopped by Fitness Advantage to check in with Peter Goodall as he puts the final preparations on his training for his fight on May 17th at the House of Blues in Boston. Peter took the conditioning class, and then sparred a bunch of rounds with three different opponents. Peter's footwork has improved tremendously, and he was firing off combinations with great speed and accuracy. He is definitely ready to rumble on May 17th!Peter is fighting for his brother Mike, who has recently been diagnosed with an oral cancer. Peter, like all of the fighters are putting themselves through a physical and mental grind in order to compete, all for the people who are truly fighting the good fight against cancer.Please support Peter in his fundraising efforts by making a donation or purchasing a ticket to come watch him fight. All proceeds go to Dana Farber and the Jimmy Fund for adult and pediatric cancer care.
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Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Catching up with Peter Goodall at Fitness Advantage
The Haymakers team made their way over to Fitness Advantage in Medfield, Ma to get one last check in with Peter Goodall before the big night! Peter looked great, and is super excited to hop in the ring. He was putting together combinations like we have never seen him before. Peter was keeping both hands high, and getting great rotation on his cross and hook. Make sure you don't miss out on this once and a lifetime chance to see Peter in the ring fighting cancer! To purchase a ticket click here or to make a donation to click here.
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Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Last Night at Cambridge Boxing Club
Last night the Haymakers team went to Central Square to the Cambridge Boxing Club to check in with Luke, Jim, and Stacey. Jim and Luke sparred 4 rounds together as part of their final tune up for their fights at our Rock 'N Rumble next Thursday night May 17th! Stacey had a lighter day, working on her technique and cardio, which have improved very dramatically. It is hard to believe that 8 short months ago Stacey was a ballerina, and now she is a boxer!Luke and Jim's rounds were very competitive. Luke was peppering his long jab at Jim, while Jim was landing some big power shots. Both of them have improved their footwork tremendously, and really are starting to look like boxers. We are really excited to see all three of these guys lace 'em up and fight cancer! To purchase tickets to come watch the team at the Cambridge Boxing Club click here or to make a donation click here.
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Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Breakthrough by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute along with a team of other research facilities have linked mutations in specific genes to each of the four recognized subtypes of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor of children. Scientists say the discovery provides doctors with potential biomarkers for guiding and individualizing treatment and reveals prospective therapeutic opportunities. The study was reported online July 22 in the journal Nature in a paper called “Medulloblastoma exome sequencing uncovers subtype-specific somatic mutations”.Congratulations to Dana-Farber for another incredible breakthrough in the fight against cancer. We are all extremely lucky to have such talented and hardworking researchers working to help knockout this terrible disease.To read the entire article: Click Here
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Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Boxing greats and their Olympic experiences
There is an extremely interesting piece posted by ESPN boxing analyst Dan Rafael on his blog. He interviews some of boxing's greats to see how their olympic experience was. Some of the highlights include Sugar Ray Leonard talking about how the whole olympic experience for a 20 year old kid was overwhelming. Also, Wladimir Klitschko talks about how he and his teammates were at the disco where the bomb went off, but left earlier in the night so they luckily missed it.This article makes us wonder if we are going to see our next great champion emerge from this olympics. It is certainly tough to see any of the current USA boxers making it big. Their showing at these 2012 games has been underwhelming to say the least. We will have to wait to see who wins gold, and potentially be our next great champion...To read Dan Rafael's piece in full: Click Here
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Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Randy Newsom training at Boston Boxing
Today the Haymakers team checked out Randy Newsom at Boston Boxing. Randy is a recent Boston College Law School graduate, and is moving to NYC in September. He is splitting his training between Boston Boxing and Mendez Boxing in NYC. Randy played football and baseball at Tufts University, and went on to play baseball in the minor leagues for several seasons.Today, Randy warmed up by jumping rope and doing some shadow boxing. He then worked on some footwork in the ring for a few rounds. Then he gloved up and started working on some combinations on a tire. After a couple rounds of the tire, Randy hopped back in the ring for some pad work with the trainers. His combinations looked crisp and his footwork solid. We are really excited to have Randy in Haymakers for Hope's corner, as we try to knockout cancer.To check out all of Randy's photos from his training session: Click Here
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Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Visits to Gleason's Gym and Church Street Boxing
Yesterday afternoon, we met up with Ari Untracht (pictured left) at the famed Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn. Ari has previously worked in the UK and South Africa as an investment banker, currently, working as President and CEO of an Ethical Mining Company based in Sierra Leone. Ari has been training at Gleason's for a couple of months now, and we can definitely tell it wasn't his first time in the gym.Ari was a good little politician, introducing us to all his trainers, as one of them wrapped his hands. We met him warming up on the treadmill, and saw him do a few rounds of shadow boxing, followed by the mitts. Ari seemed really comfortable hitting things (as he should!) and is really pumped up for his big fight on November 8th at the Roseland Ballroom for Haymakers for Hope's first NYC event!Later in the day, we headed over to the World Trade Center area, not to see sights, but to check in on Church Street Boxing Gym, where Mike Barbara and Reed Werbitt were sweating bullets. Mike and Reed are co-workers, and now, training partners (how cute!). Both of these guys have been playing sports their whole lives, but Reed has been training at Church Street for a few months now. Mike, on the other hand, was experiencing trainer Eric Kelly for the first time. I'm sure most of you have seen the now viral video of Kelly making fun of his "nerd" clients. Well, "nerd" wasn't exactly what he called Mike...We saw both guys hitting the bag, and literally melting in that basement gym. Later, Eric had them running around heavy bags while he berated them to everyone else's amusement. Sorry, we totally should have recorded it (oops!). Anyway, both Reed and Mike are very excited at their chance to get in the ring on November 8th at the Roseland Ballroom for Haymakers for Hope's first NYC event!To see more training photos of Ari: Click HereTo see more training photos of Mike: Click HereTo see more training photos of Reed: Click Here
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