Arne Petryshen
Get your gloves up, because the third annual Charity Boxing Night is coming up Oct. 24 and tickets are still available.
“This is our third event, our third charity fight night that we’ve done,” said Tom White, from the Cranbrook Eagles Boxing Club. “Basically what happened is I had the Golden Gloves here one year, spent a whack load of money and our attendance was horrible, so I thought let’s have a charity fundraiser.”
And that’s what they did.
White said they had hoped to raise $5,000 and get some anonymous nominations.
“If you’re neighbour’s kid needs some ball gloves or cleats or skates or something, we can raise some money,” he said. “And it turned into this sort of monster. We helped out a ton of people who were down on their luck, had health issues, some people even cancer treatments.”
That first year they ended up raising $22,000 in the first year.
At the second event last year, White said they didn’t expect to raise as much money, but ended up raising $29,000.
“What I was trying to do for the attendance was, was say hey, we’re a pretty good boxing club, we keep the rules pretty tight, we’re a not-for-profit organization, we’re all run by volunteers,” he said. “There’s no intimidation factor down there, we don’t allow people spitting and swearing and that kind of thing. It’s a very clean club.”
White went around to local business owners and offered training and sponsorship opportunities for donations for the event, with all funds going to the charity.
The night starts off with around 10 amateur bouts.
“Those are kids from our club, and we have Lethbridge, Calgary, Medicine Hat,and some fighters from Nelson, and actually have a boxing event,” he explained. “Then we have our charity bouts, which are just normal, everyday people from the community who have decided to step up, take the training and then face off and fight.”
The main even tin the charity round is a rematch of last year’s bout. Steve Mercandelli from Cranbrook Dodge will be going up against Randy “Moose” Rothwell.
“They put on a show last year and I tell you it was amazing,” White said. “Those two big boys, I don’t think they stopped throwing punches for the three rounds.”
Then there is the ewomen’s bout: Stacey Kormilo, also from Cranbrook Dodge, who is fighting Lori Johanson, from Windover Ranch.
Kenny Bridge will also be taking part in a hot dog eating and “wobbly pop” drinking contest, where the loser will pay the winner’s charity donation.
There are items up for auction. BA Blacktop donated a box for a Kootenay Ice Game with a $250 tab. Freightliner gave a Richard Petty driving experience at ay Nascar track. Jewels on Ninth gave a piece jewelry valued at $500. Bridge Interior gave a $1,500 recliner.
“So there are some really big ticket items that will be auctioned off,” he said.
The event has been sold out the past two years. There are still tickets left for this year’s event.
Tickets are $35 for general seats.
White is hoping that members of the community come forward to purchase tickets.
“The most important thing right now is that this event will not be successful if we do not sell tickets, meaning there will not be money to hand out if we don’t sell tickets to the event,” he said. “The business owners that have attended said it’s one of the funnest nights they’ve ever been to.”
To nominate someone to receive money from the charity, email Tom White at tom@frieghtlinercbk.com
“Basically write a description of what kind of need the person is in, what’s their situation, and then give us a mailing address where we can send the cheque.”