GirlFight Boxing Match: The Partners

We’re less than two weeks away from fight night. The first GirlFight at 99 Sudbury on March 4th, 2011. Doors at 7PM, fights start at 7:30.

As anyone who’s looked at the flyer knows, the proceeds from the event are going to Nellie’s Women’s Shelter. Nellie’s is one of the city’s largest women’s shelters for women and children who are victims of abuse. And one of the many amazing programs and services that they offer is a 12-week in-house Violence Against Women Group, led by staff group facilitators. Currently offered at the shelter location, with plans to offer this group at their Community Support and Outreach Office beginning in the fall, this program offers women an opportunity to share their experiences of abuse as well as learn and discuss different ways to end violence in their lives. Through a variety of different topics, women are able to deconstruct the cycle and patterns of violence, while creating an awareness of the different power structures both in their personal relationships and in broader society that they will face when they are on their own.

The women who have participated in the group in the past have said they liked coming together and sharing their experiences without fear, and feeling a sense of community and support with other women who have had the same experiences. So many women who are victims of violence feel like it’s only happening to them, and this program helps to break down the walls of isolation and give them a positive space to express themselves and learn to live with dignity in future. And this is the program that the money raised at GirlFight will help to flourish and reach as many women as their is a need for.

RAFFLE

We’re also putting together a fun raffle as well. Some of the DOPE gifts that you could win are: a Puma bag filled with $300 worth of Puma gear, official leather boxing gloves from Boxing Ontario as well as a free session with Judo Champ, Kimberly Ribble-Orr, a three month membership to 99 Sudbury’s gym (and their swank new yoga studio too), and a Heineken at-home beertending kit (value $250). Were selling raffle tickets for $5 each or 5 for $20. And all the proceeds go to Nellie’s along with the ticket pricing.