New York, NY (January 11, 2016) – 2003 West Point graduate, philanthropist and WBC USNBC junior middleweight titlist Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson will be recognized as a military star prior to the Johns Hopkins men’s basketball game Saturday, January 16 at the Goldfarb Gymnasium in Baltimore, MD.
An active Army Reserve Officer who was chosen for the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), Melson won four United States Army Championships, a gold medal at the Armed Forces Boxing Championship and was selected as an alternate for the 2008 US Olympic Team. Melson turned pro in 2010 and donated 100% of his purses towards a pending trial to help cure Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries. Overall, he’s raised more than $350,000 between his 17 professional bouts, three charity galas and other events.
On the 16th, Melson will present the game ball to officials while being escorted by Johns Hopkins’ ROTC cadets and the school will play a video at halftime titled “Still Fighting for the Cure”, which chronicles Melson’s journey to raise funds for a pending clinical trial that could impact hundreds of thousands suffering from Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries.
“There are so many brave men and women that serve or served our country, especially in that region” said Melson. “The fact they thought of me is amazing. Never in a thousand years did I anticipate being honored as a military star by one of the best colleges in the country for my efforts in the ring and with Team Fight to Walk. I believe the video will move those in attendance and have them feeling the same way I did the first time Christan told me her story. It is truly a blessing that I have been chosen for this at a time where we need all the support we can get as we move closer towards the trial taking place.”
The video can be watched by going tohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4KvLQYWQ0E. Melson also partook in a candid interview with Donna Drake on CBS talk show “Live it Up” that can be seen athttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbnXF6srafA.
For more information about Team Fight to Walk, please visitTeamfighttowalk.com. Tax deductible donations can be made on the website or by texting “Walk” to 20222.