Evergreen Park Boxer Fights for Christmas Without Cancer Families

Evergreen Park’s Jake Moriarty regards it as “an honor” to join the card for Thursday Night Fights, the fundraiser to benefit Christmas Without Cancer families in need Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 115 Bourbon Street.

“It’s an honor to be asked, period,” said Moriarty, a 20-year old, 165-pound Golden Gloves semi-finalist this year. “When you hear about all the great things Christmas Without Cancer does to help out families afflicted by cancer, you’ll do anything to help. All my friends are coming, too, because it’s an important cause.”

Gerri Neylon founded Christmas Without Cancer to raise funds to help families fighting cancer, and through the crusade others have devised clever ways to bring their passion in sync with hers.

In all, the Celtic Boxing Club of Chicago will present 10 live boxing bouts Thursday, May 23, 2018 at 7 p.m. at 115 Bourbon Street, 3359 W 115th Street in Merrionette Park. Tickets are $15 for adults; $10 under 21, with all proceeds benefitting Christmas Without Cancer families.

“We’re helping people help people,” said organizer Dan Letz, who with Mike Joyce has expanded the event’s reach to include talent from Celtic Boxing Club Chicago, USA Boxing and Letz Box Chicago.

Moriarty used the opportunity to try boxing while attending Mount Carmel High School. Hardly a flash in the pan, Moriarty bust on the scene and was named “Most Outstanding Boxer” during the Caravan Fight Night. After an invite to the “Ring Around the Warrior” fight card, Moriarty dialed up his dedication to the Sweet Science and has 20-20 vision for next year’s Golden Glove’s crown.

Honing their skills and becoming better boxers parallels the challenges Neylon faces as more and more families seemingly are facing the monster cancer. Without young boxers like Moriarty and people like Letz and Joyce investing time and their own resources, the Christmas Without Cancer coffers would be empty.

“I was floored last year when they told me boxing would bring crowds,” said Neylon. “I couldn’t believe how many people showed.”

The Sweet Science is a curious sport, and those who choose to enter the ring and exchange punches draw support from their respective inner circle out, which means a Thursday night fight in the neighborhood draws family members, friends, fans and former local legends like Jack Collins, a Leo product who competed for the Middleweight championship of the world in the 1980s.

Like last year Collins will get reacquainted with old friends, take photos and size up the young pugilists stepping in the ring.

In addition to Moriarty, local boxers on the card include: Danny Ford, 22, of Morgan Park; Ray Delaney, 25, of Mount Greenwood; Nick McNalley, 27, Morgan Park; Colin Murphy, 14 of Mount Greenwood; Tommy McGuire, 15 of Mount Greenwood; Elijah Pearson, 18, of Washington Heights (2019 178-poung novice division Gold Glove Champion.

Again this year, Neylon will reprise her role as ring announcer, channeling her best Michael Buffer. After a heart-felt thank you to all those in attendance, the junior featherweight RN, recently retired from Christ Hospital, will grab the ring microphone and bellow: “Lets Get Ready to Rumble for Christmas Without Cancer families.”

“This is the kind of community we live in,” said Letz, “where people come for a good cause and to help others.”

Christmas Without Cancer is a nonprofit charity that identifies need and then provides gifts and basic necessities to Chicagoland families with members stricken with cancer so to allow the beauty of Christmas to shine through while family members find comfort in their devotion to one another.

www.christmaswithoutcancer.org

To sponsor, donate or for more information, contact Dan Letz: 773/443-0624, danletz@yahood.com. Sponsorships are still available.