Put Up Your Dukes For A Good Cause

Watching blow after blow dealt with fierce accuracy in a pummeling fury of fists hit a 28-year-old woman in the cheek, chest and shoulder, might seem like the furthest thing from an exercise in combating violence against women.

But in a 20-foot boxing ring, it’s a different story.

Suited up with trunks, boxing mitts and a helmet, as a participant in the Pink Mafia Girl Fight night, a fundraising event for Nellie’s Women’s Shelter, Megan “Viper” Cooney is actually battling to help protect vulnerable women and children across the city.

Then, pushing back amid chants of "Viper, Viper, Viper" from the wrap-around crowd, Cooney pulls up her socks, ultimately trouncing 31-year-old opponent Jasmine Lefebvre.

“Being a boxer, one of the things about boxing is it’s extremely empowering,” explains Pink Mafia don Anna Von Frances, who spearheaded the all-girl combat exhibition after visiting Nellie’s in Toronto’s gritty downtown east end.

“I really loved the women there,” she says. “They have a great program that fights abuse and violence. It helps vulnerable women gain community and reclaim a voice.”

The series of high-octane bouts could not have come at a better time. Shelters have come under fire recently due to an adjustment of Canadian Border Services Agency regulations which now permits immigration officers to enter the shelters, typically an off-limits refuge for anyone facing domestic violence, in order to go after suspected illegal immigrants.

The recession has also ravaged finances of women’s shelters. And Nellie’s, an institution that has helped 13,000 women and children since 1973 is no exception.

“There’s an ongoing need, particularly in the last year or two,” says Wendy Sung-Aad, manager of development at Nellie’s. “Our fundraising was impacted significantly. It’s going to be a tough year in 2011.”

Sung-Aad was excited when she learned about Von Frances’s plan to pitch in by hosting a boxing match.

“It’s a great event to raise awareness for the issues that impact women,” she said.

Thankfully, a number of sponsors were more than happy to jump on board to make the March 4, 2011 fight night a success. The raffle included such items as a Puma bag filled with $300 of brand stuff, a Heineken at-home beer-tending kit worth $250, and a one-hour training session with Lee Turner of Concrete Jungle.

All proceed from the $20 event will be directed specifically towards the Ending Violence Against Women support group, which teaches women how to end the cycle of violence in their lives and provides a healthy community network for attendees.

Von Frances even took the ring herself, for the first official fight of her life, facing off against 26-year-old Christine Noble. And though she was defeated in the ring, her efforts created a bit win.

The event raised more than $5,000 for Nellie's to help run the support group. Von Frances would like to see all levels of government take a more active role in supporting women's organizations.

But in the meantime she plans to hold another GirlFight a few months down the road.

Because some things in life are totally worth fighting for.

Image by Drew Penner

Drew Penner
		About the author:
		Drew Penner is a thinker, a cyclist, a Journalism graduate, and ladies man. He is perfectly peculiar, but charming nonetheless.  Born in Taiwan, he is partial to drum & bass, unconventional humour, and very deep breathing. He likes music, art, culture and fashion, but swears to high heavens that he aint no hipster. Like a menstrual cycle, he only pops into the office about once a month, and the rest of the time you can find him out and about, wandering, wondering, writing for the masses. He contributes to WOMAN.ca, thinkCONTRA, and maintains an online stream of consciousness called www.urbandynamix.com.
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