Eighteen amateur boxers stepped into the ring May 27 to fight for children battling cancer at the first ever Fight For Hope.
The fundraiser attracted more than 100 people to the Rotary Spirit Centre May 27 with proceeds going to the Kids With Cancer Society and Ronald McDonald House. The total has yet to be counted.
Scotty Cartwright, the man behind the event, was fighting for his seven-year-old son Jordan, who was diagnosed with leukemia last year and will undergo chemotherapy until 2020.
To express his thanks for the treatment and care given to his son and his family, Cartwright put on the event in his hometown and sacrificed himself in the ring.
For the main event of the night, Cartwright battled Westlock RCMP Const. Craig Armstrong, representing Kali Boulerice who passed away from a brain tumor in 2006.
“I’m overwhelmed,” Cartwright said after being declared the champion, visibly shedding tears while thanking Armstrong.
“All I did was encourage a bunch of good people to get together. And look at all the good people that got together. Forget about the good people that made donations and just couldn’t make it. It’s a tough year for farmers, they had to be in their field, but there was piles of donations that came in. Look at the silent auction.”
Before Cartwright could step in the ring, the crowd raised around $2,930 for him to shave his beard.
As of deadline organizers didn’t know who much money was raised through online and at-the-door ticket sales, silent auction, donations, 50/50 tickets and more.
Kids With Cancer Society executive director Val Figliuzzi emphasized the important role fundraisers play in helping their organization provide services at every stage for the child and their family — from diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and beyond.
“We don’t get any government funding so we do really rely on the generosity of events like these,” she said. “What makes this magnificent — we appreciate all of the fundraisers — but the very fact that one of our own oncology parents has seen the need and the benefit to do this means so much to us, so we feel very honoured.”
The event also supported the Ronald McDonald House, which has one location in Edmonton, 15 across Canada and 365 worldwide. Every single night, Ronald McDonald House provides a meal to 34 families, as well as day activities for families and children who can’t stay overnight.
“I think the amazing part of the Cartwright family, their journey and their story is the impact they have on people, said Ronald McDonald House CEO Martin Dugas.
“People want to see this family succeed. He invited them, in and everybody leans in and they want to see this family succeed and the people they’re talking to succeed.
“Everybody came together for this family and for families just like them for Ronald McDonald House and Kids With Cancer.”
The boxing event also was the first of its kind for both charities.
“It’s very unique, very creative and really is fighting for the hope that we hope to have for our children,” Figliuzzi said.
“When Scotty first started saying the ideas, we want to help in any way possible but we didn’t have a clue how that would happen, you could see all the pieces moving,” Dugas added.
“Just seeing that vision come to life with all of these people and tables and chairs, standing and talking and mingling, coming together as a community — he nailed it.”
