In 2017, I watched the Belles of the Brawl and was immediately inspired. Year after year, I applied to fight. Simultaneously, year after year, so many people are diagnosed with cancer. Yet, NO ONE is signing up for that. This fight is not about me, it has never been about me. This fight is for all those who have lost a parent to this terrible disease. 

 

While I have lost family members to cancer, I nominate this fight for all those who have lost a parent to cancer, in particular I fight for my best friend, Anna. Anna, the strongest person I know, has lost both of her parents to cancer. Anna demonstrates strength daily, something I admire. This fight is in memory of Robert W. Reynolds and Maria Reynolds, Anna's parents. In 2003, Robert Reynolds was diagnosed with colon cancer and within one year he passed. In 2015, Anna's mother, Maria Reynolds, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. For 2.5 years, Maria fought a hard and courageous battle. Maria was determined to see Anna get married and passed away 16 days later. Every part of her fight was for her children. 

 

While I fight in honor of all those who have lost a parent to cancer, I hope I have one teaspoon of the amount of badass that my friend's sister, Abbie, displayed in her battle against breast cancer. In 2022, Abbie was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35 when her youngest child was 8 months old. What Abbie thought was a clogged milk duct from breastfeeding quickly turned to an ultrasound, mammogram, sonogram, biopsy and a diagnosis. After completing eight rounds of chemo, a bilateral mastectomy, and 25 rounds of radiation, Abbie proudly rang the bell in December 2022 and continues to dance her way through life! A mother, a friend, a daughter, a wife and a complete FIGHTER. I hope I swing with as much fight as Abbie!

 

I dedicate my fight to Anna and her parents, young mothers like Abbie, and on behalf of all those whose lives have been impacted by cancer. All proceeds will be donated to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

 

Please join me as I literally get punched for a cause, but remember that each hit I take is a hit against cancer. As Jess Sims says, "The way you do anything, is the way you do everything!" And Haymakers don't halfass our fight against cancer!