Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Los Gatos Locos boxing gym isn害羞草研究所檛 currently your usual boxing gym.

Right now, wannabe boxers are training there for the opportunity to step inside a boxing ring and fight to make a difference in their community.

Owner and coach Geoff Lawrence has brought back 害羞草研究所楾hree-Round Heroes害羞草研究所� to give people an opportunity to change their lives via boxing, and in turn support local outreach programs.

害羞草研究所淲e recruit men and women who have never boxed before in their lives, give them three months of training, and the whole time their training, they fundraise,害羞草研究所� said Lawrence.

The raised funds are then put back into the community to support recovery home programs at Ozanam House, Karis Support Society and Freedom害羞草研究所檚 door.

Over the past two years, more than $30,000 was raised and donated to help keep the doors open at the recovery homes.

The three-month training program is concluded with a celebration fight card between the 害羞草研究所渢hree-round heroes害羞草研究所� and professional amateurs.

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The event has now come full circle, as participant Joseph Dube, who was once in a recovery program, is now participating as an amateur boxer on this year害羞草研究所檚 fight card.

It was his way of giving back after receiving help last year.

害羞草研究所淔or me, it was a way to learn certain disciplines, and for me to challenge my anxieties and stress,害羞草研究所� said Dube.

害羞草研究所淭he type of work that Geoff and his team do, I害羞草研究所檝e seen them give so much of their time and energy in getting people to succeed, and that害羞草研究所檚 something that I want to be a part of.害羞草研究所�

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Lawrence and his team train the 害羞草研究所渉eroes,害羞草研究所� but as part of the fundraiser the gym donates time slots for men and women working with the outreach programs to come out and get boxing training.

Dube decided to enter the boxing world, and now he wants to pursue it further.

害羞草研究所淚 definitely choose to fight as a way to give back, to show people my ability to push myself, and to show other people that they can do it too. It害羞草研究所檚 definitely a personal thing, but I害羞草研究所檓 seeing how far I can grow in the discipline of boxing,害羞草研究所� Dube said.

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This year害羞草研究所檚 event fight card will feature eight to 10 charity fights, and then a similar number of amateur fights.

Lawrence said the event was a sell-out the past two years, and the impact of his program has been felt within the community.

害羞草研究所淔or the recovering addicts, for the participants, I get calls from guys害羞草研究所� mothers that are thanking me from the bottom of their hearts. It害羞草研究所檚 crazy how big of an impact it害羞草研究所檚 had for both,害羞草研究所� said Lawrence.

害羞草研究所淕oing to keep donating and fighting for the community, because we care for our community, for as long as I害羞草研究所檓 here.害羞草研究所�

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The 害羞草研究所渉eroes害羞草研究所� are mid-training and the fight card is set for July 6 at the Rutland Centennial Hall.

Email Lawrence at geoffmadkatz@gmail.com for more information for tickets and donations.

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