Why I am Fighting for Haymakers for Hope

How I Got Here

About 9 months after founding Wabbi, I hit a Chief Everything Officer burnout wall (that’s a soapbox for another day). I realized if I wanted to be my best for Wabbi, I needed to start taking care of myself. That meant bringing back the things I loved—cooking, hosting friends—and finding something that could quiet the mental hamster wheel for at least an hour a few times a week.

So, for reasons I still can’t quite explain, I decided I needed to find a strength trainer who could also teach me boxing.

Why boxing? No idea. I’d never been to a match. Didn’t know anyone who boxed. I hadn’t even seen Rocky. ...but I might have said, “I feel like I’m getting punched in the face daily, so I might as well learn how to fight.”

I found an ex-boxer turned trainer. It didn’t work out. The idea went back on the shelf.

Fast-forward to summer 2024. I’m holding a plank for what felt like 5,000 years (hi, Jordan!) and telling my trainer this story. He says, “You know... I box. And I’ve trained people for a charity match called Haymakers for Hope.”

And so it began.

Here I Am Today

After a tough (to say the least) start to the year when I lost my Mom, I was lucky to have an amazing support system as I righted myself in my new normal, and one of those places was in the gym. Like so many others, Jordan asked, “What can I do to help?” And instead of defaulting to “Nothing,” I said, “I need a goal. Something bigger than running faster or lifting more.”

“Okay,” he said. “Let’s train you to submit for Haymakers.”

This wasn’t just a good goal. It was a goal for good. That made it great.

And so we trained. I got back to my normal – not just in the gym – and then the moment came: the application for Haymaker’s Belles of the Brawl was open. The adrenaline – a combination of fear and excitement - of completing it was only eclipsed by my college and grad school applications. But in the midst of the adrenaline, I had a sobering moment, when it asked “How have you been impacted by cancer?” I realized that it took me more than two hands to enumerate the stories of those in my inner most circle having cancer. One of whom had just told me of her diagnosis a week earlier.

That’s when this shifted from a cause to a mission.

Just by submitting, I had already won. Even if I didn’t get selected—or win my fight—I’d learned a new skill, pushed way outside my (and my doctor’s) comfort zone, and committed to something meaningful. How often do we have the opportunity to give ourselves that kind of challenge as adults?

But (Type A alert), I wanted to do more. I wanted to help others win. Reflecting on all the people I love impacted by cancer, it’s clear that investment in research has had a real, measurable impact on outcomes and patient wellness.

So, when the acceptance email came, I was ready. Who was I to be afraid of being punched in the face by another human, when so many people I love had been punched by cancer?

So Now, Here We Are

That’s right—we. If you’re reading this, you’re in my corner. And I’m so grateful.

Together, we’re going to help KO cancer—from research to patient access to recovery support.

Here’s how you can help today:

1. Follow the Journey

I'll be sharing weekly-ish updates here, in my newsletter (sign up in the footer), and on my boxing-only Instagram: @TheVelvetGuillotine (More on the name later…you’ll have to follow along to find out.)

2. Mark Your Calendar: Fight Night 🥊

🗓 October 9th

📍 MGM Music Hall, Boston, MA

🎉 Full Vegas-style production, dinner, drinks & a good cause

🎟 Tickets go on sale in August

3. Help Me Reach My $20,000 Fundraising Goal Click Here to Donate Now

Every dollar supports cancer research and patient care via Haymakers for Hope. My personal fundraising is going to Big Red Bag, a nonprofit helping cancer patients transition home post-surgery. (You'll hear more about them soon—hint, hint.)

H4H is a 501(c)(3), and eligible for most corporate matching programs. Check if you qualify.

4. Go Full Vegas

Sponsor a box or table for Fight Night—bring friends, bring clients, bring your company. Sponsorships are also eligible for corporate matching. Get details here, or drop me a line and I’ll connect you with the right folks at H4H.

Thanks for being in my corner. Let’s win this one together.