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Thursday Jun 14, 2018

Belles of the Brawl V: Marissa Polichene

Thursday Jun 14, 2018

Belles of the Brawl V: Nicole Bezreh

During the coming months, we’ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Belles of the Brawl V in Boston on October 5th. 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 Nicole Bezreh, fighting out of BoxSmith in West Roxbury, MA.Where are you from? I'm from Needham, MA.Where’d you go to college? I went to Saint Anselm College 2009 for undergrad and University of Massachusetts Boston 2017 for grad school.Did you play any sports growing up? I was primarily a cheerleader growing up, but also dabbled some in swim team and gymnastics.What do you do for work? I am a Clinical Nurse Specialist in a cardiac surgical intensive care unit in Boston.Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? I have been intrigued by boxing for years. There is not a specific reason why, but I wanted to try a class....and loved it. I've been taking boxing classes for the past three years whenever my full-time-work/part-time-grad-school schedule allowed. I never really pictured myself fighting. Most people in my world are shocked to find out I'm participating in a sanctioned fight!Why on earth did you sign up to fight?? When I first started boxing, I didn't even think I wanted to spar, let alone train for a fight! The more I learned about the cause and the event, the more interested I became. After attending my first fight night, I was determined to fight also! I like to challenge myself!You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure - where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you? Unfortunately, I think there are few people that cancer hasn't affected in some way. My grandfather, grandmother, and godmother are all cancer survivors! My brother's best friend and best man passed away at 26 years old this past January from ALL. My motivation to participate in Haymakers (which was already high) sky-rocketed after that. The fight is three weeks before my brother's wedding, and his best man will only get to be there in spirit. We need to find a cure for these diseases!What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? (beer, cheeseburgers, time spent watching TV?) Pasta! Definitely!When you’re not throwing punches and training -- what other hobbies/interests do you have? I am fortunate to have many close friends and family members in the area to spend my free time with! Other favorite things include the beach, Boston sports (Bruins and Patriots especially, concerts, and reading!Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? I'm lucky enough to have a lot of supportive people excited for me (and nervous for me)! I'm afraid to guess who wants to see me actually take the punch!Be sure to check out her fundraising page here and wish her luck! Best of luck, Nicole!

Thursday Jun 14, 2018

Belles of the Brawl V: Laura Julian

During the coming months, we’ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Belles of the Brawl V in Boston on October 5th. 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 Laura Julian, fighting out of EverybodyFights in Boston, MA.Where are you from? Originally from Berlin,CT.Where’d you go to college? Assumption College. Go Hounds!Did you play any sports growing up? Growing up I was the shortest, scrappiest little volleyball player on the court and I also was a ballet dancer for more than a decade.What do you do for work? For the past four years, I’ve been working at a tech company called Motus in downtown Boston. I manage our Customer Care team, where we work together to ensure our customers are satisfied and continue to bring value to their organizations.We have an amazing culture, full of vibrant individuals that make coming to work every day so much fun!Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? Last year I watched as my friend and co-worker Lara Gibbons dedicated her heart and soul to training for Belles 2016. On fight night she came out a winner and I knew at that moment that I wanted to do the same. Boxing is the hardest sport I’ve ever done. It requires both mental and physical strength and I enjoy the practice of training each day to become better. I never pictured myself a fighter and I’m pretty sure my parents highly dislike that I’m fighting….I’m following in Lara’s footsteps because I can.You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure - where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you? Everyone has their own reasons for getting into the ring and fighting for a cure. My inspiration to fight for a cure comes from my family, my friends and my team. My father’s strength, my mother’s heart and my sisters tenacity provide me with the focus and inspiration to train every day. A few years ago I watched a friend and co-worker fight and win his battle with Cancer. He may not know, but he inspired me to make some serious life changes and clean up my health (I quit smoking 2 years ago…whoop, whoop!). My team, we call ourselves the “Lion Pride” and this is the toughest group of people I’ve ever been a part of. I draw inspiration from them every day as we train together for our own fights. We have seen each other during the highs and the lows, but we will always have each other’s backs, we are always in each other’s corner.What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? (beer, cheeseburgers, time spent watching TV?) Doughnuts. My weakness is any and all sweets, so cookies and ice cream and milkshakes. I traveled with my team to NYC and had a “farewell” milkshake from Blacktap…it was amazing. I’m already booking my trip back for October!When you’re not throwing punches and training -- what other hobbies/interests do you have? I love to travel and experience new places around the world. I try to travel to a new country or city every year and I’ve already got my eye on a trip for after Belles!Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? My family is definitely not excited to watch me get punched in the face! They are nervous for the fight, but beyond excited that I’m participating in an amazing event that raises money for a cure. My co-workers are pumped to watch me fight! The Motus office rolls pretty deep to the Haymakers events and since they have to constantly hear about my 5am workouts and dieting, I know they are going to be excited to watch me fight and to celebrate when it’s over.Be sure to check out her fundraising page here and wish her luck! Best of luck, Laura!

Thursday Jun 14, 2018

Sorry, Mrs. Early

“Are you done with this nonsense already?”“This is silly. Absurd. I don’t want to hear about it anymore. I’m done.”“Why can’t you do something normal, like run a 5K?”~ Mrs. Early..........Cara Early’s mom is concerned about the fact that her daughter, come October 5th, will come face-to-face with another comparably-sized human being, a person whose sole purpose on that particular day will be to attempt to beat Cara with her fists.It is not unreasonable for Cara’s mom to be feeling concerned. As a father myself, I would never allow my daughter to get into a boxing ring. Not in a million years.Granted my daughter is a one-year-old, but still.Watching your baby, however old, step into a boxing ring and quite possibly leave it bloody and beaten is a lot to take in. You can’t blame Mrs. Early for being a bit squeamish about it all.“I think she’s finally coming to grips with it,” Cara says, laughing, “I know she’ll be there for the fight. I mean, she’ll probably be at the bar, but she will physically be in the building.”“The training is really intense. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It’s all consuming,” she says, “My friends think I’ve joined a cult. I end up talking to people from the gym more than I see the normal people that have always been in my life. They are like, where are you?”With all the potential bloody noses, bruises, and black eyes (not to mention the cult rumors flying around), Mrs. Early gets a total pass for resisting her daughter’s voluntary decision to become a Haymakers for Hope fighter and all that that comes with.It has to be a lot to ask a woman to watch her daughter fight.Again.............Cara Early was diagnosed with leukemia when she was four years old.“I remember being at the hospital. Treatments that were really painful. There were tests I remember. Really big needles.”“I knew I was sick,” she recalls, “but I don’t think I understood until later what cancer is, how sick I actually was. When you’re four, you just don’t know. I was little. I knew I was losing my hair. I knew I was pissed about it. I had to miss school, which I loved. You don’t really grasp the implications until later.”“My parents did their best to treat me normally. My older siblings grasped it a lot more. My sister was nine or ten and my brother was eleven or twelve. They got it. They understood what cancer is and how sick I was.”“I was really lucky to live in Massachusetts,” she says, “You don’t think ‘lucky’ when you think about cancer, but I was treated at UMass in Worcester, about 20 minutes from my parents’ house. I was able to have a normal childhood while getting the best treatment in the world.”Cara has been in remission since May of 1996, when she was seven years old. Today she works for an investment management firm in Boston and, after attending a friend’s Haymaker’s fight, found herself signing up after a few cocktails.“Yes, the initial push was maybe a little bit alcohol infused,” the self proclaimed boxing-newbie laughs. “I’m getting excited. It’s a total unknown. I’ve sparred at this point, but never boxed in a real boxing match. Add that it’s the House of Blues, plus, what, two-thousand people? I’ve never competed in any athletic venue before.”Cara is training with Roscoe Hill and Julia Sarni at EverybodyFights.“It is so awesome,” she says of the gym, “It is such a community. So many people there are rallying behind Haymakers.”“The self discipline is the worst part. It’s summer. Do I really not want to go out for happy hours with my coworkers on a Thursday night and instead go to the gym? Plus the physical aspect has been really, really tough. Actually getting hit, and being okay with getting hit, and simply knowing that it is going to happen. It’s been hard in many different ways. It’s brutal.”No matter hard the training is, Cara has the life experience to keep everything in perspective and see the importance of this journey. For Cara, putting her body at risk, sacrificing her time in the gym and fundraising, and giving her mother a few gray hairs isn’t just a way of helping others. It’s a way to say thank you.“Haymaker’s is a new chapter for me. I want to do something. I’m not a doctor, I’m not a researcher, there’s not really all that much that I can contribute to the community that gave me so much. I’m fighting for all the people who fought for me when I battled cancer. It’s a way to honor them. The nurses, the doctors, family members. They fought for me when I couldn’t. I’m fighting for them.”Sorry Mrs. Early. Can’t really argue with that.Go get’em, Cara.

Thursday Jun 14, 2018

Belle in Training: Nichole Bezreh

You’ve heard who they are and why they’re fighting. But nowthat we’re over the halfway mark until the big night on October 5th, thingshave started to pick up a bit. Training is getting more intense. They’ve beenpunched in the face. Most have had a bloody nose here or there, their dietshave changed, and boxing is becoming an everyday part of their lives. So wefigured it was about time to check back in and see how things have been going.Nicole Bezreh has been putting in work at BoxSmith and below you’ll hear abouther first time sparring and more about his experience with Haymakers thus far. We’re halfway to fight night, how is your training coming along? Slowly, but surely. It is challenging and some days are tougher than others, but it's absolutely worth it!What is your weekly routine? I'm adjusting to a new work schedule, so my routines all changed at one. That has its benefits and disadvantages. I'm at the gym 5 nights a week and sneaking in extra short workouts in the am when I can.How has your diet changed since training began? I've never been great at portion control. I have learned that if you're craving something it is usually better to have a small portion of that food, but healthy otherwise. I'm eating more protein and getting most carbs naturally from fruits and veggies instead of my usual, pasta.Tell us about your first time sparring, different than expected? Sparring was mostly what I expected. I've had a lot of variability with size and experience of opponents which has made for different challenges. It's amazing how 2 minutes of sparring can physically and mentally exhaust you more than almost anything else!What has been the most challenging part of sticking to the routine and training so far? I was primarily a night nurse until just about the time I started training. My body is not just adjusting to increased work outs, but it's challenging adjusting to a new sleep schedule too. Also, summer comes with temptations- vacations, barbecues, summer drinks...What does your family think of your participation? They're incredibly supportive. My mom even keeps me company on runs and helps me meal prep. They're also a little nervous about me getting a black eye or something since Belles of the Brawl is three weeks before my brother's wedding.It’s amazing how many people’s lives have been touched by cancer in some way - has there been anyone that has surprised you by their story? I work in healthcare, so little surprises me. However, I continue to be inspired by the stories I hear every day! Especially the fighters who have fought cancer themselves!Has your initial inspiration changed since the start of your training? My inspiration hasn't changed, just grown!Donate to Nicole or purchase a ticket to Belles of the Brawl V on October 5th here !

Thursday Jun 14, 2018

Belle in Training: Adrian Wright-Fitzgerald

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 5th, 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. Adrian Wright-Fitzgerald 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.How is training coming along? Training intensity has easily doubled now that we are in the homestretch and second half of training camp. More than anything the mental aspect of training has become just as hard if not harder than the physical aspect, this truly is the biggest test of self-confidence, grit, and determination.What is your weekly routine? I am usually in the gym twice a day, 6 days a week. 5 days a week in the ring with my trainer, sparring a few times a week, team conditioning once a week, and individual lifting, conditioning, and a long run filling in the other days.How has your diet changed since training began? My diet hasn’t changed drastically, I was sort of a nerd when it comes to meal prepping and eating pretty healthy prior to training. Alcohol obviously is cut out, and I have to be snacking every few hours, because I get so hungry all the time.Tell us about your first time sparring. Different than expected? Sparring was mentally much more challenging than I expected at first. It is a true test of confidence, and being able to train your central nervous system NOT to do the things it instinctually wants to do, like try to not get hit.What has been the most challenging part of sticking to the routine and training so far? Sleep and recovery is always challenging. Making time for stretching, foam rolling, icing, massage, preventative exercises. It’s the most important – it keeps you healthy and going. It feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done that I want to get done, especially with training and recovery.What does your family think of your participation? My family is excited, nervous and very proud. My three nephews (ages 10, 8, and 5) are really excited to hear about how my boxing is going every time to talk to them… they keep asking me if I have any “battle wounds.” They have eagerly asked for a punching bag for their birthday, so to my sister’s chagrin I may have inspired some of their current athletic interests.Has there been anyone that has surprised you by their cancer story? I was surprised and deeply touched to learn all the stories of why my teammates are fighting. Although we all have our personal inspiration for why we fight, when I see how deeply affected the people around me have been by loss, it only strengthens my determination. My teammate Jackie recently lost a close friend to cancer last month amidst training, and her strength and passion is a daily inspiration for me.Has your initial inspiration changed since the start of your training? My inspiration has not changed, but I have realized more than before that although this journey is bigger than me, and the end result will hopefully touch so many people, the process is hinged upon my belief in my abilities and figuring out what makes me a fighter and WHY I want to be in that ring. My inspiration got me to this point, and now I have to get myself to that finish line.Donate to Adrian or purchase a ticket to Belles of the Brawl V on October 5th here!

Thursday Jun 14, 2018

Rumble in the Rockies: Brett Forrest

During the coming months, we’ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Rumble in the Rockies in Denver on June 14th. 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 Brett Forrest, fighting out of the Blunt Force Training.Where are you from? Colorado Springs, COWhere’d you go to college? University of Colorado at Boulder Did you play any sports growing up? Baseball, Track and Field, Soccer, Cross Country, and BasketballWhat do you do for work? I'm a TV producer and reporter for a new TV show called Daily Blast LIVE. Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? Mostly because Brian Shroy prodded me, but also because it truly is something I've always wanted to try. I've never been in a fight and hope to never actually be in one, so this is my only chance to train and throw a few punches! Why on earth did you sign up to fight?? If I'm going to try boxing, might as well do it on a big stage like this for a good cause.You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure - where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you? Everyone is affected by cancer either directly or indirectly. My maternal grandma had early stage breast cancer successfully removed before her passing and my aunt suffered from a bone cancer that sadly took her life. Personally, I had to have my entire colon removed due to complications from Ulcerative Colitis and fears it would lead to cancer. My friends, family, and anyone else out there who have dealt with cancer are who inspire me.What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? (beer, cheeseburgers, time spent watching TV?) I have already begun cutting back on junk food, daily pizza trips, and nights out partying. In other words, I have completely altered my lifestyle.When you’re not throwing punches and training -- what other hobbies/interests do you have? I love snowboarding, hiking, traveling, photography, and trying to sing karaoke.Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? None of my friends have wished me good luck or said they're excited for me. Instead, they have all said, "Can't wait to watch you get punched!" I'll take whatever support I can get.Be sure to check out his fundraising page here and wish him luck! Best of luck, Brett!

Thursday Jun 14, 2018

Why They Fight

With 30 different men and women stepping into the ring for the first time on May 17th you can imagine there must be a lot of nerves and emotions swirling around. Excitement, fear, anticipation, hope, dread, the list goes on. They all have someone they are fighting for, they all have individual things driving them. Their lives have all been touched by cancer in some way. As fight night is approaching get an inside look as to what motivates these brave men and women who are stepping in the ring to literally knock out cancer.Unfortunately, I don’t know too many people who haven’t been affected by cancer in some way. Whether it is friends or family I have seen it impact people close to me. In 2016 I was lucky enough to became a parent. I think when that happens it makes you more empathetic to what other families have to go through. Being a parent and having to watch your child go through chemo is unimaginable to me. The fact that it is 2018 and this is still a reality for a lot of people is why I am doing this. -Tom GalvinIf I had to list every time cancer has affected me, my fingers would bleed from typing. I’ve lost too many family members and loved ones to this awful disease and know a myriad of others who have successfully battled or are currently battling cancer. The person closest to me is my Mom who was recently diagnosed with MDS and just completed her first round of chemo. I loathe cancer so the opportunity to fight and raise money to help others in any way was a no brainer. -Christian CarballoI have had a number of friends who have had cancer and have received amazing treatment at the facilities in Boston. One of the things that inspires me is bringing the care out to the local communities in New England. -Andrew FrawleyI’m drawing my inspiration from every picture my cousin shares with me of her daughter sitting on a hospital bed with a huge smile on her face as she waits for her chemo treatment. I dig deep and work through minor aches and pains thinking about how she stays up late to finish her homework because she wants to go to school even though she’s had an awful belly ache or headache for days. I also think about how I felt on May 23rd 2013 when I turned 32 and realized I was older than my dad ever was… passing due to a brain tumor. I committed to living life to the fullest and taking advantage of opportunities like this. -Joe SilvaWatching family and friends battle cancer has been a constant throughout my life. Their strength and courage always leads me to question, how can I help? -John GeorgeI will be fighting in honor of my cousin Bud or Major General AJ Stewart as he was known in the US Air Force, who passed away at the age of 55 from brain cancer. When told he had 3 months he said they haven’t invented anything that can kill me in 3 months and went on to live another 27 months. If he can do that, I can conquer this! I also hope to honor my family members, friends, co-workers, past and present who have either dealt with this horrible disease personally or have seen it's effect on someone they love. Cancer is an awful awful disease. If I can have a small hand in helping someone battle to simply see another day or somehow someway make a contribution to fund a cure, I'm all in. God has blessed me with the ability to do something for someone else and I'm going to do it to the best of my ability. -Kori BrownMy grandfather lived with cancer for many more years than he was supposed to. In the end it wasn’t the cancer that took him, but his reluctance to have surgery for a heart attack as he was just sick of being a “lab rat.” I’m fighting to progress research so that one day a decision like that doesn’t have to be made! -Jess TonesThe challenge. The top notch organization. The stories from former fighters, especially Jess Marino. -Anthony FortunatoOn the boxing side, I’ve spent a few years working long hours, late nights, and spending hours on the road letting my body atrophy and I wanted something structured and intense to kick me back into shape. It’s also a sport that I’ve very recently become fascinated with given its rich history. It’s something unlike anything else I’ve done and is highly appealing for that reason. I can’t imagine a better organization to go through this journey with (ask me again in April though).On the cause side, cancer is a disease that has impacted my community frequently and often devastatingly. My Mother is an 8 year cancer survivor, my Aunt tragically passed a year ago, and more friends and family than I can count are battling currently or are anxiously awaiting their anniversary check-ups. My Mother’s diagnosis inspired me to spend a good portion of my senior year of HS in a lab at Vanderbilt working on research for radiology treatment enhancement. I ultimately dropped the science path for the business/finance route, but I’ve found myself in a unique position to make an impact financially and emotionally to support and encourage support for those pursuing a cure and providing support along the way. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, there is a self-serving component for all of us as well, as the statistical likelihood is probable enough that each of us will some day need the services of the same people and institutions that I’m looking to support today. -Peter AwadA good friend runs an organization called Family Reach that supports families who are going through cancer treatments, providing both financial and emotional support. It's a great organization and I thought I could help. And learning about Grant - who I am fighting in honor of - and the struggles he has overcome at age 3... it's pretty inspiring. It's easy to get to the gym when you think about what he and others have gone through to fight against cancer. -Chip RivesMy 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. -David CalliesI'm drawing inspiration for the dozens of family and friends who have already battled this terrible disease. -Erik JohnsonBoth my grandparents have battled and survived cancer. My grandmother is a two time breast cancer survivor, and my grandfather is has survived prostate cancer. Not being around or able to help them out like the rest of my family, I always wanted to be able to pay them back. Participating in Haymakers for Hope is my way of honoring my grandparents. In addition to my grandparents, I also have plenty of friends who have been affected by cancer. -Kyle WhiteLast November marked my 40th birthday. Leading up to that milestone though, the number I was focused on was 12. My father died 31-years ago, at the age of 52, from pancreatic cancer. While I never considered 52 old, approaching 40 made me realize how young 52 really is. The question of “what if I only had 12-years left?” hit me like a ton of bricks (or perhaps an uppercut, I will learn). At the time, I was overweight, in terrible shape, and was missing out on a lot of great aspects of life. Meanwhile, my wife was diligently going to boxing class at 5AM almost daily and the kids were getting bigger and more active every day. I knew I had to make a change fast. Instead of easing into anything, I went "all in". I went to a nutritionist, took blood tests to screen food sensitivities, and then actually followed the recommended actions. For exercise, I was doing a boxing-based workout at Crushit Fitness. After shedding over 30-lbs I felt like I could start to think about taking on a big physical and mental challenge. I must have been feeling particularly good one day in December when Paul Karger, one of the TwinFocus founders and an avid advocate for boxing and combat sports, sent around the Haymaker’s signup to inquire if anyone on the team would consider participating.. I applied to participate and here we are. While there are plenty of nerves that come with signing up to box someone just as motivated as you are, in front of a crowd of 2,000, I am excited to be putting myself out there and to test myself. The opportunity to keep working hard and get in great shape while fighting cancer made too much sense, given this all started with the question "what if I only had 12-years left?". -Patrick HarneyI draw my inspiration from the following: My Mom: Judy Cuccia- Lost November 2016 My Stepdad: Michael Cuccia- Lost July 2017 For Caleb and every kid that didn’t deserve this fate. I've run a marathon and a handful of half marathons for a Children's Cancer Charity in Florida, in memory of Caleb Whan. And I fight for those still fighting. My Dad: Parker Willard Sr. 3-0 vs Cancer and still swinging My Papa: Carl Cuccia… In his 90’s and still Fighting the good fight! (And for all you survivors and fighters out there!) A little known fact also is that my wife has had a trip to Dana Farber as well. We have been very blessed that her issues were benign in nature. But I draw my inspiration from her strength and determination and from the love of my boys, Parker (9) and Piers (3). Cancer has punched us too many times. It's time for some counter-punching! -Parker WillardUnfortunately, I became aware of the disease at a young age as my grandfather passed away from cancer when I was 8 years old. His battle w/the disease and the impact it had on my family is something that I will never forget. -Eric BrazGrowing up I spent every Sunday after church at my Nanas house. I am one of 24 cousins so Sunday at Nana’s was always busy. My parents, aunts and uncles would gather in the kitchen drinking coffee and my cousins and I would play. She was diagnosed with cancer and ultimately lost her battle. Those Sundays were never the same after that. I also lost my uncle Carleton to cancer. He was the kind of guy that when you talked to him it didn’t matter what else was going on in the room you were the most important person to him in that moment. He was special, kind, thoughtful and a real role model. I still miss him. These are just two examples of what Cancer has taken. I aim to take some of that back. If a dollar I raised helps fund research that leads to an extra day for a mother to have with her child it will be worth every moment. -Adam HollisHaving been around EverybodyFights for the past 18 months, I have witnessed a couple groups of people train and fight for Haymakers for Hope. Some of these folks I am lucky enough to call friends, but all of them I am inspired by. I knew I wanted to sign up before the last Belles of the Brawl - but that night really cemented it for me. I saw how hard the Belles worked and they put it all on the line. If you have never been to an event, trust me, it is hard to walk out of the venue that night without feeling totally inspired. Also, there are so many people fighting much tougher battles on a daily basis. And if they can do that, and do it bravely, then I can take a few punches to support the cause. -Ryan HoganDuring my Junior year of college my grandfather was diagnosed with an advanced form of cancer. The absolute Superman of our family, hearing him cry on the phone to my sisters and I when telling us broke us all. But he kept being that rock that we relied on through it all. I was fortunate enough that I was close enough to home that I was able to sit with him through every chemo session. One of the last pictures I have of him is sitting in therapy with a huge smile on his face. His strength before, during and after each round is what drives me. Outside of my personal experience, I have plenty of friends and acquaintances whose lives have been affected by cancer. Haymakers is an opportunity for me to represent all of those people that want to have a voice in the fight for a cure but don't know how or what they can do about it. -Rusty Handler

Thursday Jun 14, 2018

Lights, Camera, Action!

One of the coolest parts about participating in a Haymakers event is Media Day, where a professional film crew turns our first time amateur fighters into pseudo pro-boxing stars! This go around, our Belles of the Brawl filmed with our good friends, Gauntlet Films , at EverybodyFights FiDi in downtown Boston. Check out some behind the scene still shots and stay tuned for some jaw dropping video shorts featuring these badass female fighters.

Thursday Jun 14, 2018

Hope NYC VI: Stephen Trevor

During the coming months, we’ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Hope NYC in New York City on November 16th. 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 Trevor, fighting out of Mendez Boxing in New York City.Where are you from? Beautiful Cleveland OHWhere’d you go to college? Here in the city at Columbia College.Did you play any sports growing up? When I was younger I played soccer and swam competitively, later I picked up fencing which I became very serious about, competing for the US at both the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.What do you do for work? I work at a hedge fund called Avenue Capital where I am a Portfolio Manager focused on private debt, private equity and distressed for control investments. I am also the CEO of Boulevard Acquisition Corp II, a $370 million, NASDAQ listed special purpose acquisition company.Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? For the last several years I added boxing to my regular fitness regime and love the speed and intensity of the workout. As a kid, Muhamad Ali, Joe Frazier and Marvin Hagler were some of my sports heroes.Why on earth did you sign up to fight?? When the fourth person I was close two got sick this year, I knew it was time.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 uncle, Stephen, died of Leukemia when he was 6 years old. I saw and felt the impact losing him had on my family. This fight is real for me.What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? (beer, cheeseburgers, time spent watching TV?) I have stopped drinking during my training week, and miss my favorite beer and red wine….When you’re not throwing punches and training -- what other hobbies/interests do you have? Hunting, fishing, gardening, horseback riding.Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? Hard to say, there are so many……Be sure to check out his fundraising page here and wish him luck! Best of luck, Stephen!

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Belles of the Brawl V: Marissa Polichene

Belles of the Brawl V: Nicole Bezreh

Belles of the Brawl V: Laura Julian

Sorry, Mrs. Early

Belle in Training: Nichole Bezreh

Belle in Training: Adrian Wright-Fitzgerald

Rumble in the Rockies: Brett Forrest

Why They Fight

Lights, Camera, Action!

Hope NYC VI: Stephen Trevor