What’s my ‘why’? Why step into a ring and get punched in the face? I lost my Mom to lung cancer 5 years ago. I was a flight nurse at the time. A flight nurse is mentally, emotionally, and physically strong, which makes it seem like I could handle anything that came my way. Not this. I was paralyzed. My Mom put up a good fight though. For almost 2 years she fought through hell…..chemotherapy, radiation, pain, fatigue, and other symptoms she most likely didn’t tell us. As a healthcare professional, I’ve held the hands of people that passed before their time due to this horrific disease.

All healthcare professionals remember their first patient death. My first patient died from cancer at 28 years old. Her son was only maybe 4 years old. He tugged on my scrub pants and looked at me with tears in his eyes and asked if I could put him in bed with his mommy. Cancer has affected me not only in my professional life but it hit hard (real hard) in my personal life.

But many of you may ask….why boxing? Why not just run a marathon? What made you get into boxing? Well, I was in a very toxic and hostile work environment. Boxing saved my life.  Now I want to use boxing to save others. Win or lose, I’ve fought for every hero and survivor. I plan to donate the money I raise to a foundation that is based in my small town in Illinois. Many individuals cannot make it to their chemotherapy appointments because it’s 45 minutes to an hour away. This foundation provides gas cards so those people (my people) have a fighting chance. Follow me through my journey on Instagram @bkey113 and please donate to my cause and come watch me fight to knock out cancer on June 14th at 730pm.