The latest
Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Hope NYC VI: McKay Claghorn
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 McKay Claghor, fighting out of Church Street Boxing Gym in New York City.Where are you from? New York CityWhere’d you go to college? Cornell UniversityDid you play any sports growing up? Lacrosse, soccer, squashWhat do you do for work? I’m on the equity trading desk at RBC Capital Market Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? After school I was definitely curious about boxing but never lived close enough to a boxing gym to pull the trigger. So when I heard about Haymakers I decided to force my own hand and make it happen. I was constantly playing sports throughout school, so grew accustomed to being active. In adjusting to the real world I realized the importance of maintaining that outlet, especially given the less frequent competition in contact sports. It's as much for the mental benefits as the physical – where you can unload the stresses of the day, clear your head. And you can't be distracted in the ring; boxing demands focus, readiness to react. I think Mike Tyson said it best: "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face." So I'm excited for the challenge of preparing for the unplanned.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 far as direct impact, I lost grandparents to cancer. But I really empathize with those who have seen loved ones battle cancer earlier in life. I think we all feel that, and it shows in the donation support from friends and family – even strangers. It’s inspiring to see so many people come together for a cause that clearly affects all of us, even if indirectly. My firm is heavily involved with MSKCC as well as Ronald McDonald House with our big annual event, RBC Race for the Kids, on September 16th, and I’ve recently become a supporter of For Pete's Sake Cancer Respite Foundation which helps cancer-battling families from a different angle. The past few years I competed in the D10 which benefits Memorial Sloan Kettering, so I was naturally excited about another shot to contribute to the (literally) vital work being done there. To have the opportunity to test myself physically while also raising money for such an important cause – it doesn’t get much better than that.What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? (beer, cheeseburgers, time spent watching TV?) Summer and Fall weekends tend to be a bit indulgent given the warmer weather, so I think maybe a few Saturday nights won't be able to reach their full potential. But that’s ok – after the fight they’ll just be that much sweeter. I can guarantee one thing: it's gonna be a bad day to be a turkey in my household on Thanksgiving.When you’re not throwing punches and training -- what other hobbies/interests do you have? I definitely try to stay active given most of the day I’m in a seat staring at screens. I still play on a spring/summer lacrosse team, and a few years ago I started playing golf so I’ve become increasingly obsessed with that game.Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? Is it bad that I can’t decide between coworkers and friends?Be sure to check out his fundraising page here and wish him luck! Best of luck, McKay!
Read more ›
Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Hope NYC VI: Ben Rader
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 Ben Rader, fighting out of Church Street Boxing Gym in New York City.Where are you from? Happy Valley, PennsylvaniaWhere’d you go to college? Wesleyan UniversityDid you play any sports growing up? VolleyballWhat do you do for work? LawyerWhy boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? No clue. A friend recommended it as good conditioning, I started taking classes with my oldest son, he embarrassed me sparring and then I was suddenly driven to get better at it.Why on earth did you sign up to fight?? My mom died of cancer in 2012 and I'm searching for positive ways to work through that and make a difference for people affected by 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? My mom is a huge inspiration. Not only did she help me with homework every single night of my high school career but she worked really hard for peace and social justice in or society. She wanted it and fought for it and spoke true to power to anybody that stood in her way. Although she'd totally freak out if she knew I was boxing, my mom was a fighter - in the truest sense of the word.What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? (beer, cheeseburgers, time spent watching TV?) Time hanging out with my family and friends.When you’re not throwing punches and training -- what other hobbies/interests do you have? I write music and am in a rock band. Board member of an Africa environmental foundation. Pro bono legal services for immigrants, veterans and homeless people.Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? Maybe Andrew of Haymakers for Hope. Way back when we both worked at Goldman, I was the lawyer who held him up from starting H4H with my pesky legal questions. He definitely won that fight. It all comes full circle.Be sure to check out his fundraising page here and wish him luck! Best of luck, Ben!
Read more ›
Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Belle in Training: Samantha Ory
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. Samantha Ory has been putting in work at UFC Gym and below you’ll hear about her first time sparring and more about his experience with Haymakers thus far.How is your training coming along? Training is going really well – I haven’t worked out this hard since I ran on a competitive level. It was a bit of a shock to my system initially, but extra stress that my body has gotten used to at this point. My body actually craves the gym and my whole system is out of sync if I don’t get my daily routine in! I have also noticed a change in my athletic ability. Runs and Yoga sessions that were once more challenging for me have become much easier since I started my boxing and conditioning.What is your weekly routine? I train twice a week for 1-2 hours with my coach. The other 4 days I shadow box, jump rope, and hit the bag for at least 45 minutes usually coupled with a run of about 3 miles, swim, yoga, hip hop (for the foot work!) or a boxing cardio course which encompasses some weight lifting. Sunday is my off day and boy do I need it by then.How has your diet changed since training began? I expected to be on a strict health kick but soon realized that I am burning so many calories I need fats and sugars so I don’t lose too much weight. I have been eating everything and anything and eat every 2-3 hours (I am literally hungry all the time!) with my big meals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. One time I was on hour 2 of training and one of the other coaches came in with a Philly cheese steak, and I swear it was almost impossible for me to concentrate. All I cared about was getting my hands on one too!Tell us about your first time sparring. Different than expected? Yes, it was actually much scarier than I expected it to be. I got punched in the nose pretty hard, and despite my increased stamina still found myself completely winded – even in a 3 minute round! The fight or flight sensory’ s kicked in and not only did I forget my technique, but even forgot to put my gloves up to avoid the punches because I was so stunned. Not my proudest moment, but something I have since been able to control and am still in the process of training for!What has been the most challenging part of sticking to the routine and training so far? The time commitment has been the most difficult part of training for me. It is tough to stick to a steady schedule sometimes with work commitments. Also, working out as hard as you do requires an additional shower, which for a girl can get a bit tedious (girl stuff takes forever) and adds an additional 20-30 minutes to your workout time block. Needless to say, I have definitely been cutting out any make up or hair straightening lately (am I right ladies??)What does your family think of your participation? They are honestly a bit worried about me getting beaten up – but quite supportive as they understand this is important to me.Has there been anyone that has surprised you by their cancer story? I had a friend that battled cancer (and won!!) He ended up working through the entire ordeal without missing work once except for standard doctor’s appointments. It was truly inspirational to me given how sick he must have been feeling as he was going through treatment but how he refused to let it alter his life and goals in that moment. His story has made me stronger in my own career and made me rethink what I thought of as a “bad day in the office.”Has your initial inspiration changed since the start of your training? Not at all, in fact it has gotten more powerful as I go through this journey with the other Belles. I have had so many amazing friends support me by coming to my conditioning sessions, helping me market myself to fundraise, organizing groups together to come support me during fight night and understanding when I am a bit later to events than usual due to training! I really cannot thank them enough!Donate to Samantha or purchase a ticket to Belles of the Brawl V on October 5th here!
Read more ›
Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Hope NYC VI: Rebecca Cai
During the coming months, we're 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 Rebecca Cai, fighting out of EverybodyFights in New York City.Where are you from? I was born and raised in Arizona. However, I’ve always considered myself an East Coast girl at heart.Where’d you go to college? Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Did you play any sports growing up? I was a fairly active child growing up. After trying swimming, tennis, and track and field, I found that sports were not my thing mostly because I lacked hand eye coordination. I took up dance instead and was trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz, and tap. Despite being fairly awkward starting out, dance really helped me grow into my own skin and taught me discipline and hard work. When I got to high school, I joined the varsity pom team, cheering for football and basketball games which allowed me to maintain my love for dance but added in elements of performance and competition. From there, I took my dance background and joined a few dance teams in college, leading a contemporary and hip-hop team at MIT and participating in a few Boston dance groups. I believe dancing, just like boxing, is a full body sport, which not only pushes you physically but also challenges you to think creatively. It’s too bad my old high kicks won’t be able to help me in the ring!What do you do for work? I work at J.P. Morgan within the debt capital markets platform.Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? Quite honestly, I never pictured myself fighting. Boxing was not a sport I grew up with, but something I learned about when I met my husband, Robi. As I have gotten to know more about boxing, I have gained an immense amount of respect for the sport. Alongside the physical battle you are literally partaking in, there is a lot of mental stamina that is being tested. It’s absolutely insane in the best kind of way. From the first few weeks of training, I have already grown to love the sport and the community that surrounds it.Why on earth did you sign up to fight? I signed up to challenge myself to step outside of my comfort zone. I don’t know about other people, but I’m definitely not someone who is comfortable getting punched in the face. However, I think the psychological part of “fighting” is really what resonates with me and drew me to sign up to fight.Life throws a lot of punches at us. Sometimes, they are quick jabs like personal insults or negative words but sometimes we can get hit with that hard left hook like a cancer diagnosis. Regardless of how big or small the punches feel, I believe we decide how to react. Sometimes we might cry a little bit (or a lot), but at the end of the day, we pick ourselves back up and fight for what we believe in. I fight because I have the amazing opportunity each day to choose happiness and health, to love and to serve others, and to cherish family and friends.You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure - where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you? Over the past six months, cancer has infiltrated the lives of many people I hold dear. Most recently, my grandfather was diagnosed with late stage stomach cancer which has affected his ability to eat and digest both solids and liquids. At this stage, there is no specific treatment in sight, and he is too weak to undergo the intensive surgery required. His hearing is also starting to fade, making our communication more difficult. In addition, my aunt recently underwent chemotherapy as part of her cancer treatment and continues to battle against the disease. While I used to go on frequent visits to see my aunt and grandfather in Taiwan, I haven’t been able to see them over the past several years and miss them dearly. After the fight, I hope to visit my grandfather, encouraging him to continue his battle against the brutal disease.I know many of you have gone through similar experiences where you or someone close to you has fought cancer. Amidst the physical and emotional suffering, I’ve witnessed amazing exhibits of strength and unity. In my fight, I'm inspired by the strength I've seen and I’m honored to be given the opportunity to fight and raise awareness so that others can have a better chance of conquering the disease.What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? I have a slight obsession with cake. If I’m having a bad day (or really any kind of day for that matter), it’s likely that you’ll find me with a big slice of chocolate cake. Let’s just say that I may be the person handing out baked goods now that I can’t keep them all to myself…When you’re not throwing punches and training -- what other hobbies/interests do you have? As I alluded to above, I very much enjoy spending time in the kitchen, cooking and baking. Basically, anything that has to do with food. Food with friends is even better. When I’m feeling inspired, I love planning menus and hosting dinner parties.I also enjoy travel, trying new restaurants, and exercising!Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? Probably my husband...but only because he’s been trying to get me to join him in boxing ever since we started dating.Be sure to check out her fundraising page here and wish her luck! Best of luck, Rebecca!
Read more ›
Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Hope NYC VI: Michael Kiami
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 Michael Kiami, fighting out of WorkTrainFight in New York City.Where are you from? Dover, MAWhere’d you go to college? University of PennsylvaniaDid you play any sports growing up? Rowing, Tennis, SkiingWhat do you do for work? Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at a Hedge FundWhy boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? This past spring I started to incorporate boxing into my workout regimen as a fun source of cardio and I quickly fell in love with it. I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed it and found myself watching late night reruns of fights on Showtime almost every night and thought it would be a great experience to train for one myself.Why on earth did you sign up to fight?? I was familiar with the Haymakers4Hope organization because some friends of mine have participated in the past, all of whom lost their fights, so I decided to register with the hopes of being the first of my friend group to come away with a win!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 with many families, cancer has unfortunately affected mine as long as I can remember. My grandfather passed away from cancer only a few months after I was born. My grandmother, who is a cancer survivor, was diagnosed when I was 5 years old. My great-grandmother passed away from cancer when I was 14 years old, and most significantly, my mother passed away from cancer when I was 17 years old. I’ve personally witnessed and experienced the devastating affect this horrible disease has on those who are diagnosed, the struggle they endure to fight it, and the pain and suffering it causes for their loved ones. I am drawing my inspiration from all of these amazing people who have impacted my life and helped shape me to become the person that I am.What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? (beer, cheeseburgers, time spent watching TV?) Beer is definitely going to be a challenge, but I think the hardest thing for me is the early morning training sessions. I’ve never been a morning person and love my sleep, so let’s just say that the 5:30 alarm and I are not on the best of terms right now…When you’re not throwing punches and training -- what other hobbies/interests do you have? I love to ski. I typically go on 3-4 ski trips every season and will book last minute weekend trips out west if the conditions are worth the Sunday night redeye back straight to the office.Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? Definitely all of my friends. I think they’ve already started making wagers amongst themselves on how long I will last before going down.Be sure to check out his fundraising page here and wish him luck! Best of luck, Michael!
Read more ›
Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Emily Jones: The Second Round Fighter
I remember being introduced to Emily Jones during her first few months of training for Rock 'N Rumble VII when I was a newbie at EverybodyFights. She walked into the gym with a quiet confidence that so few can exude. It’s almost intimidating as a fellow fighter, let alone to someone who is coming to a new gym. We chatted about her training for Haymakers in May, and as a H4H alumni, I told her what it was like to fight under the lights, and what she would want post-fight. She looked like she would easily and very willingly kick my ass, but she greeted me every morning with a welcoming smile, “Hey Sam!”Fast forward to the day before her midpoint sparring session in March against her Haymakers opponent, and Emily faced one of the most heartbreaking things that could ever happen to a fighter. In a rugby match (yes, she’s that badass), she dislocated her kneecap and completely tore her MCL along with her medial patellofemoral ligament, which attached the kneecap to the femur. For common folks like myself, it’s a lot of fancy words for saying Emily’s knee was a disaster and had to deal with the worst news that could come to a fighter. “I was in shock. I knew it was really bad... [but] I didn’t think it was going to end the fight for me. I didn’t realize what a terrible thing I had done.”Handling adversity is what Haymakers for Hope is about. We fight for the ones who can’t, because they are going through treatment or worse, because they lost in the ring with their opponent named “Cancer.” But the fighters go through their own hardships, emotions, and adversity too. Emily faced just that when she realized she couldn’t fight in May. “I cried and ate Chinese take-out for 3 weeks.” This was more than just a fight; this became her life for the duration of her training.You see, training for Haymakers and fighting under those lights, in front of 2,000 people takes courage, sacrifice, and an enormous emotional toll on yourself, more than one would expect. “It’s a really transformative experience… I’ve never done something so immersive… it impacts all of your day-to-day decisions, ‘Is this going to make me better on fight night?’ I should know- I did it twice. While I was heartbroken for Emily when I found out the news, I was honored to take her place on the fight card in May.My 6-week training period was worth it to fight again, but especially to have Emily in my corner. When I asked her what it was like to corner me, she practically implied that being in the corner completely changed her outlook of the event too, “I thought I was chill, then I got in the ring and I was like, whoa, no chill.” You’re right Emily, no chill, but at least you have a slight idea of what to expect when you walk into that ring on October 5th for Belles of the Brawl, or at least how to calm your nerves before the fight.Anyone who gets the pleasure of watching Emily train in the gym can see the drive and passion behind the fighter. To see her get a second chance and the opportunity to fight in the upcoming Belles of the Brawl V, while rehabbing her knee, anyone can see that she is one tough lady. I’ve gone through days where I say to myself, “I don’t want to spar Emily. She hurts too much.” In fact, I’ve said that days before I know I’m going to spar her, but then I realize she’s making me better, whether I’m staring at her from the other side of the ring or seeing her in my corner. Her athletic ability and work ethic are commendable, but it’s her perseverance and character that makes her more than the average fighter.Training for an event like Haymakers for Hope is a story in itself, but coming back from a major injury the way Emily has is what makes a story an epic one, and she’s not even done writing it. “Anything that adds a little bit of humility and ass-kicking is good for you.” Emily may have been talking about training for October 5th, but that’s what I tell myself every time I have to spar her.
Read more ›
Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Until I Collapse
“‘Cause sometimes you just feel tired, feel weak And when you feel weak, you feel like you wanna just give up But you gotta search within you And gotta find that inner strength And just pull that shit out of you And get that motivation to not give up And not be a quitter, no matter how bad you wanna just fall flat on your face, and collapse.” -Eminem, “Til I Collapse”........On October 5th, as Stephanie Jandrys steps into the ring, months of sacrifice, hard work, and dedication under her belt, she’ll do so as the lyrics above fill the space around her. It’s a powerful song, one that I’ve listened to countless times, that I could probably recite most of the lyrics to off the top of my head. It’s forceful, unrelenting, an anthem for those for whom the option of quitting isn’t on the table, never was. For those who’d collapse before ever throwing in the towel.Hearing Stephanie’s story, her appreciation for this song recontextualizes the song for me, gives it a new meaning, a more literal meaning. Those eight lines perfectly encapsulate the struggle that those who Stephanie Jandrys aims to help by fighting and fundraising endure. For those afflicted with cancer, those are the two choices.Fight.Collapse.“I’ve already had my toughest fight,” Stephanie says, “[Haymakers] isn’t anything in comparison. There haven’t been any hits worse than my body had felt prior.”When she was twenty-three, Stephanie found herself feeling constantly lethargic and sick all the time. Initially her doctors chalked it up to the consequences of the social nightlife that so many people in their early twenties enjoy, but after a few exams she was sent to MGH. There, she was diagnosed with Stage 2 Uterine Cancer.“Both sides of my family were riddled with cancer,” Stephanie says, “We didn’t realize that my Nana actually had the same diagnosis as me, but hadn’t told anyone.”Stephanie had immediate surgery. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation. She had doctors remove her eggs and have them frozen. You can see in her eyes and hear in her voice how important becoming a mother one day is to Stephanie. It’s clear as day when she talks about it.“If I am ever blessed enough to become a mother, hopefully that decision will prevent any complications,” she says, “But today I am officially in remission. And I feel great.”Stephanie looks great too, which is to say that if her Haymakers fight were today, I think she’d be ready to go. She’s tall, with long arms and looks strong, not in a “cross-fit muscular” way, but in the way someone who is very active does. For example, if a thief stole an old woman’s purse, you wouldn’t be surprised to hear that Stephanie was the one who chased him down and got it back. She looks like someone who would be good at boxing. If she told you that she was a power puncher, you’d believe her.“I’m definitely a power puncher,” she tells me.I believe her.“I have always been an athlete. I was mid-treatment in 2014 and had gained some weight due to the prednisone I was on, so I picked up fitness boxing, which was more cardio based, more fun and showy. I took to boxing right away. It was a good way to relieve stress and clear my head. Fitness boxing is really just you against the bag, mostly stational. So while I have some boxing background, for Haymakers I had actually picked up a lot of bad habits.”Stephanie is now a trainer and the Assistant General Manager at TITLE Boxing Club in Saugus and is training for Haymakers at The Way in Woburn.“It has been the best experience. Every fighter has to raise $5,000 and so far we have raised over $17,000. It’s just phenomenal.”“I’m not just fighting for myself,” Stephanie says, “I’m fighting for my Oncologist, for the nurses who, at your lowest of lows, greet you with those smiles, a cousin that I lost to suicide, and to my father, who passed away when I was eighteen.”Stephanie wipes away tears as she mentions this group of people, those she lost and those who did all that they could to make sure that no one lost her.“When I’m in there [training], I talk to my cousin and Dad and get in a different head space. It helps me remember why it is that I’m doing this. It’s been good. I’ve cried a lot,” she says, “My father was big into rock music, so when I do strength and conditioning, I keep hard rock on. He liked Pearl Jam. My father was an athlete and was so proud to have a daughter that was also an athlete. Me doing Haymakers is exactly what he would want. He definitely would have wanted this.”Stephanie’s mother, on the other hand, feels a bit differently about all this.“My mother is not going to be coming to the fight,” Stephanie laughs, “She’ll support from afar. She cried when I told her I was doing this. She understands why. She gets it. But she can’t watch her baby get hit. She’s like ‘I will not sit in an arena with all these people yelling ‘knock her out!’ It’s my daughter!’”As for her own fears about the prospect of getting knocked out, they don’t seem to exist.“I can’t say that I’m scared of anything, because if I lived my life like that after all I’ve been through, I wouldn’t be living. If I lose, I’m going to want to end on a win, so I’m going to fight again. And if I win, I’m going to go on a run with it. Oh, I’m not done after this. Once you get the feeling, the hunger for it. It’s a pride thing. I’m going to keep going. Until someone knocks me off my feet.”Or until she collapses.But, knowing Stephanie Jandrys, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting on either thing to happen.
Read more ›
Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Hope NYC VI: Travis Reim
During the coming months, we're 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 Travis Reim, fighting out of Gotham Gym in New York City. Where are you from? Austin, TexasWhere did you go to college? Columbia UniversityDid you play any sports growing up? I'm from Texas, football is a religion.What do you do for work? I'm an Analyst in the Financial Institutions Group at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? I haven't tackled someone in nearly two years, so I've been feeling the effects of softness. I'm non-violent by nature and boxing was the literal push I needed to toughen up.Why on earth did you sign up to fight? I attended Haymakers last year as a guest of a friend who previously fought, and he planted (and cultivated) the seed in my mind.You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure – where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you? If you mess with my family, you mess with me.What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? Frosé.When you’re not throwing punches and training – what other hobbies/interests do you have? I'm a dedicated Law & Order binger, relentless Columbia football fan, and critically-acclaimed Instagram husband.Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? My girlfriend. I just hope she still likes me afterwards.Be sure to check out his fundraising page here and wish her luck! Best of luck, Travis!
Read more ›
Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Hope NYC VI: Jason Harris
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 Jason Harris, fighting out of Church Street Boxing Gym in New York City.Where are you from? Born outside of the D.C. area in Fairfax County.Where’d you go to college? James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA.Did you play any sports growing up? I grew up playing soccer and I did some track & field. Is partying a sport? I used to be very good at that.What do you do for work? I run an advertising agency (Mekanism). I’m a mad man by trade.Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? I never really watched boxing or was drawn to the sport. I was looking for a new workout and on a whim took a class at Church Street. I have only been doing it a few months, but I enjoyed the intensity of the training right away. I never pictured myself boxing in a fight.Why on earth did you sign up to fight? I thought the best way to make myself learn quickly was not to give myself an out. I’m also a sucker for a good cause. And I can’t think of a better cause to raise money for than knocking the f**k out of cancer. Learn a new skill and fight cancer. Sounds like a double win.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 hit everyone. I am drawing inspiration from my two grandmothers, my mom’s best friend and my business partners brother. If there is any way to get one step closer to finding a cure, I’m in.What is the most difficult thing to give up during training? Was I supposed to give stuff up? Shit.What are your hobbies and interests when not throwing punches? Playing music (bass player). Coaching my kids in soccer and life. Spending time with the fam. Traveling to new places. I dig my job.Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? Everyone that works at my company can’t wait to watch me eat a punch or three.Be sure to check out his fundraising page here and wish him luck! Best of luck, Jason!
Read more ›
Thursday Jun 14, 2018
Rock 'N Rumble VIII: Jess Tones
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 Jess Tones, fighting out of Grealish Boxing.Where are you from? FloridaWhere’d you go to college? Boston Architectural College Did you play any sports growing up? Soccer, basketball, balletWhat do you do for work? Construction Project Manager Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting? Boxing is not just physical but mental! Takes you away from all the day to say. Why on earth did you sign up to fight?? I’ve been to a few H4H events and was inspired by the past contenders to get in the ring! 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 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!What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? (beer, cheeseburgers, time spent watching TV?) Pizza 4 nights a weekWhen you’re not throwing punches and training -- what other hobbies/interests do you have? I love to travel as much as possible.Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night? My mom.Be sure to check out her fundraising page here and wish her luck! Best of luck, Jess!
Read more ›Showing 351 to 360 of 445 results