Tag Archives: West Point

boxing, charity

Melson Nominated for Most Inspirational of 2015!

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New York, NY (December 29, 2015) – Junior middleweight boxer and philanthropist Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson has been nominated for Most Inspirational by Ring Magazine.

Having dedicated most of his life during the last 13 years to help cure Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries, Melson’s selfless efforts have been chronicled by various media outlets. The visibility of the cause he fights for and organization he donates 100% of his fight purses to, Team Fight to Walk, has grown tremendously during the last few years.

The 2003 West Point graduate also helped organize three successful “Fighting for the Cure” galas and successfully lobbied New York’s powers that be to reinstate a bill that allocates a percentage of each moving violation towards Spinal Cord Injury research. Last summer, the 15-1-1 junior middleweight along with Dr. Wise Young, Dr. Patricia Morton and others met with Congressman Chaka Fattah at a briefing at the Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC to discuss clinical trials that could help hundreds of thousands suffering from Spinal Cord Injuries walk again. Word from Congress about the trial going forward is expected within 90 days.

Overall, Melson’s raised more than $350,000 for Team Fight to Walk.

“Last December the WBC honored me with their Ambassador Of Peace Award and this past July the NABF honored me with their Humanitarian Award,” said Melson, who captured the WBC USNBC title with a career best performance in May 2015. “A sport that I was forced to first partake in because of a mandatory gym class at West Point my Plebe (freshman) year along with my belief how I could use the boxing ring in order to help find a way to help people walk again has turned into this.”

“My only hope is that any human being learning of this story, especially children, internalize the following: understand your power of creating a vision, understanding what your own abilities are to achieve that vision and prepare to suffer while holding on to that vision for as long as their is air in your lungs. I believe my experience throughout this journey so far has shown again how one person can be the raindrop that creates the storm of change. What is real in our minds is real. I’m honored that Ring Magazine included me and I hope the publicity helps raise funds and awareness for Spinal Cord Injuries. Thank you to the sport I love for sharing my dream.”

To support Melson, please visit the comment section ofringtv.craveonline.com/news/407191-2015-ring-awards-finalists-for-most-inspirational or tweet @Ringmagazine. 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.

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Team Fight to Walk to host “Fighting For the Cure” Gala October 15!

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New York, NY (September 24, 2015) – WBC-USNBC junior middleweight champion Boyd Melson and Christan Zaccagnino, Founders of Team Fight to Walk, will host the organization’s third annual “Fighting for the Cure” benefit gala Thursday, October 15 at 6:15 pm

at the Beckwith Pointe in New Rochelle, NY.

Tickets and sponsorship packages to “Fighting for the Cure” are available by going to teamfighttowalk.com/gala or calling 914-497-5727. All donations are deductible per IRS regulations.
New York Knicks great John Starks will serve as the Honorary Chairman for this special evening and a number of other guests will be available to mingle with ticket holders. The current guest list includes former world champion and pound for pound superstar Paul Williams, Super Bowl XXV Champion Stephen Baker of the New York Giants, middleweight champion Danny Jacobs, former champions Junior Jones and Chris Algieri along with former New York Knicks Herb Williams and John Wallace. More guests will be announced shortly. This outstanding evening of entertainment and awareness includes cocktails & appetizers, a formal dinner, silent auction, blackjack tables, live music, open bar, DJ and guest speakers.
During the last two years, Team Fight to Walk hosted successful galas in New York featuring comedy acts from Artie Lange and Damon Rozier accompanied by emotional speeches from Melson, Zaccagnino, Major Max Brewer, world renowned Dr. Wise Young, Eric LeGrand and cancer survivor turned world champion boxer Danny Jacobs.
In June, Melson, Dr. Young and Dr. Patricia Morton met with Congress in Washington, DC to present evidence from successful Spinal Cord Injury trials in China. The Chinese trials saw 15 out of the 20 patients regain the ability to walk again and 10 patients have their bladder and bowel function return. This is the exact same procedure that would be used in America and an official answer from the FDA on the trial is expected to come before this year’s end.
If the trials are to take place, the cost for surgery and therapy is $150,000 per patient and 100% of those costs are being raised through public donations. The trial will be held at University Hospital in Newark, NJ and will involved 12 patients. Currently, the federal government is not offering financial assistance, even though thousands of soldiers are returning from war with Spinal Cord Injuries.
From the time they met at a dance club during his junior year at West Point in 2002, the most important thing in Melson’s life has been to see Zaccagnino walk again. Christan broke her neck at the age of 10 after a diving accident and been confined to a wheelchair ever since. To spearhead the funding efforts for the aforementioned trial, Melson’s donated 100% of his purses from 16 of his 17 professional to Team Fight to Walk, a 501(c)(3) with one of his purses going to a childhood friend whose son was battling brain cancer. Between the two galas and his professional bouts, Melson’s helped raise more than $330,000.
“We are close as ever to making a significant difference in America,” said Melson. “Team Fight to Walk has been working extremely hard for this and our fundraising efforts have been nonstop. Still, there’s a long way to go, even if we get approval from the FDA. Our last two galas have been outstanding, and we’re aiming to raise even more money this year towards the cause. We need the assistance from everybody out there. We need to wake up and live each day with the fact that we share this planet leading our active consciousness. Our galas have emotionally moved many attendees that heard the stories and struggles from those suffering from Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries who are can’t have the surgery in America that could enable them to walk again. If you’re unable to attend the Gala, please consider donating to Teamfighttowalk.com. Every dollar makes a difference!”