This episode features Ray Tomsick, a fighter training with coach DeVarryl “touch of sleep” Williamson at TOS Boxing in Denver for the upcoming Haymakers for Hope event, Rumble in the Rockies on June 13th. Ray shares how he got involved with Haymakers through his friend Chase, who fought the previous year. He discusses the impact of cancer and other illnesses on his loved ones, including his mother's battle with multiple sclerosis, which motivated him to embrace this challenging opportunity.

Ray vividly describes the transformative experience of training, the supportive team environment at TOS, and how boxing has become a positive outlet amidst personal tragedy. He expresses gratitude for finding purpose, discipline, and a daily "vacation from the mind" through the grueling workouts. The interview highlights the mental and physical growth that occurs during the four-month training camp, as well as the life lessons and sense of fulfillment gained from pushing oneself to new limits.

(00:00:21) "And it's just like them being debilitated. Right. And me being a capable human being, I need to be doing stuff and do it in a positive light. Right. So that's what drew me to haymakers for hope. Cause it's like, it is a fight, right? Like all these people are fighting all these things and why shouldn't I be fighting"

(00:30:49) "I have no doubt that you're going to make her very proud on event night." - Julie in reference to Ray’s mom.

(00:32:18) "Finding out things that you didn't know about yourself, finding out things that you might not know you needed in life, like mine, one of those main things, needing that daily interaction with a team, showing yourself just truly how strong you can be."

(00:34:00): "The biggest advice is show up to me. It was show up every day. Every day is a new day. Every single day. It doesn't matter what you did yesterday in the gym, whether it was good or bad. Pack it away, put it away. It's over. Today's a day. Don't think about tomorrow. Don't think, just think about what you have to do today and give it everything you got."

Donate to Ray Tomsick's Page

Donate to Haymakers for Hope

Follow Haymakers on Instagram

Haymakers for Hope is an official 501(c)(3) charity organization that gives you the opportunity to fight back against cancer. They also have charity bibs for races all across the country and host charity golf tournaments.

Not Every Fight Ends at the Bell is presented and produced by Haymakers for Hope. Our producers are former fighters Jordan McMillan and Julian A Lewis II.

This episode of Not Every Fight Ends at the Bell features Jeff and Katie Scola sharing their inspiring story. In 2016, at age 27, Katie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Just over a year later, while in remission, she ran the Boston Marathon. Then a month after that, Jeff fought in a Haymakers for Hope charity boxing event to raise money for the Ellie Fund, which had supported them during Katie's treatment.

Despite the difficulties of Katie's cancer journey, the couple maintained remarkable perseverance and positivity. Their story highlights the power of strength, love, and fighting spirit in the face of adversity. They have since welcomed a daughter into their family.

(00:00:27) Katie: "I just remember being so proud of Jeff, so, so grateful. Like who does that? Like, you know, your girlfriend goes through cancer treatment and you sign up for a boxing tournament to potentially get the shit kicked out of you in front of a lot of people."

(00:07:41) Katie on her diagnosis: "It's like the before and the after. It's like the before where there's, you're young, you're 27 living with not a care in the world. And, you know, in a moment's notice, you're like, oh my gosh, I'm spending an hour on a call with a nurse advocate learning all these things about breast cancer that I just never, ever thought I would be hearing."

(00:11:16) Jeff on learning of Katie's diagnosis: "Yeah, it was just kind of crazy. I mean, I was, I was actually on the phone with Tom (his boss) outside. I was coming back from a meeting on the North shore. And just to give you the kind of juxtaposition of like how quickly your life changes at an instant."

(00:19:31) Jeff on seeing Katie finish the Boston Marathon: "I just lost it. And it was just like, you know, I don't think you forget that feeling and how proud I was and how fortunate I felt not just have her in my life, but that she could be there and do that."

(00:37:54) Jeff's advice for prospective fighters: "Just enjoy every moment because it will go quickly and then you'll look back and say, man, I, you know, once the scars heal, so to speak, but you're like, I would do that again."

Read how Katie and Jeff took back the date

Donate to Jeff Scola's Page

Donate to Haymakers for Hope

Follow Haymakers on Instagram

Haymakers for Hope is an official 501(c)(3) charity organization that gives you the opportunity to fight back against cancer. They also have charity bibs for races all across the country and host charity golf tournaments.

Not Every Fight Ends at the Bell is presented and produced by Haymakers for Hope. Our producers are former fighters Jordan McMillan and Julian A Lewis II.

This episode features Rachel Hogan, an alumni fighter from the Bells of the Brawl 2019 event. Rachel discusses how she got involved with Haymakers for Hope by first attending EverybodyFights gym and taking photos at Haymakers events. She was inspired to sign up as a fighter after seeing her then-boyfriend (now husband) go through the training process.

Rachel talks about the difficulty many women face in embracing the aggressiveness needed for boxing, and how she had to adopt an aggressive "character" during training. Her coach Chris DeVega provides commentary praising Rachel's hard work and positive attitude.

The episode also includes a segment from fighter Luke, who is preparing for an upcoming Haymakers event after battling cancer. He discusses how the training stacks up against other challenges like football camp and cancer treatment.

(00:24:14]) Rachel: "Trust the process. I feel like that's a really cliche thing, but it's true. Trust the process, trust your coach."

(00:31:27) Rachel: "If I had to choose one to photograph over and over and over again, I think I already said it. It would have to be bells just cause something about having all female fighters and like when girls friends show up to cheer you on, like the cheer squad for an all female event is unreal."

(00:33:20) Rachel: "I've definitely gained a level of self confidence and like strength that I always want to continue. Embracing again, like I was kind of not like timid, but I wasn't really a pushing forward in the ring and metaphorically kind of a person. So it's definitely helped me become stronger."

Check out Rachel’s photography on her Instagram

Donate to Rachel's husband's marathon page (Ryan Hogan)

Donate to Haymakers for Hope

Follow Haymakers on Instagram

Haymakers for Hope is an official 501(c)(3) charity organization that gives you the opportunity to fight back against cancer. They also have charity bibs for races all across the country and host charity golf tournaments.

Not Every Fight Ends at the Bell is presented and produced by Haymakers for Hope. Our producers are former fighters Jordan McMillan and Julian A Lewis II.