Hailing from Pittsburgh, PA, Ciara grew up learning to love giving back and helping others. Her parents instilled these values and led by example, with family activities such as community charity events, Humane Society visits with Mom, coaching softball with Dad, and staffing the Salvation Army Red Kettle with the whole fam (in subzero temperatures :)).

With the support of her incredible family, Ciara also spent her youth and high school years playing softball throughout the Steel City and beyond. Bound for Penn State but compelled to keep playing, Ciara packed up her passion for the game and prolonged her career for four years on the PSU Club Softball team.

At Penn State (WE ARE!) Ciara was also an active participant and leader in organizations supporting THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. The THON community supports children and families impacted by cancer through fundraising and events year-round, culminating with a 46-hour no sitting/no sleeping dance ‘marathon.’ Each year Ciara became more immersed, especially after forming relationships with THON children and families, and losing several loved ones to the disease. Ciara was selected by her peers to dance in THON 2016, a truly life changing experience and honor.

Ciara moved to the DC area after college, and soon traded her softball glove for boxing gloves. She joined BASH Boxing where she found her new “team” in 2019, training on the mitts and eventually the mic. She has now been a BASH Coach for two years, where she strives to help others fight for and become their best selves.

Ciara is extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate in Haymakers for Hope, where she'll use her drive for challenging herself to support a cause so close to her heart. While training and fighting will at times be challenging and painful both physically and emotionally, the struggles will serve as a reminder of those whose battles don't end at the bell.

She dedicates her fight to Nana Bea, Nana Shirl, Pap Mislanovich, Grandpa Christy, Sue Gilbert, Kayla Sansone, Savion Atterberry, and Felicia Rupp.

Please consider supporting so together we can KO Cancer <3