Fighting for mental fitness
“My feet hurt.”
No wonder.
Boxing coach Jim Guardia had been on them for 24 hours straight, midnight to midnight, holding the pads at Legend’s Gym in Sydney’s Kensington for anyone who wanted to hit against him. All to raise awareness for mental fitness, and funds for Gotcha4Life.
“I wanted to use what I do for a living to make a difference. When I started holding pads, I wanted to do something different, something to help people,” Jim says.
So he decided to hold a fundraiser at his gym, one where people could come and do some boxing or just watch - and chat about what might be going on for them.
Jim’s family, friends, gym community and total strangers came together for what turned out to be a powerful, around-the-clock demonstration of support, resilience and dedication to raising awareness for mental fitness.
He asked celebrity fitness coach and mental health advocate Alexa “Action Alexa” Towersey if she knew a likeminded charity he could support? She sure did. Gotcha4Life.
“I didn’t know Gotcha4Life, but as soon as I found out what the foundation did, it hit me straight away - reaching out and looking after your people, and the link between mental and physical fitness. I knew I wanted to team up with them to raise funds and awareness.”
“Hitting pads has helped me and my mental health a lot. To me, it is a form of therapy and I wanted help others too. That’s while I chose pad holding.”
But Jim wanted his challenge to be about more than connecting glove on pad - he wanted it to about connecting socially - person to person, and encouraging real conversations beyond the banter, especially to support those who may be struggling but who find it difficult to open up.
“People love coming to the gym for the talking and socialising, but a lot of people find it hard to speak up and turn to someone when they need support. That doesn’t make you weak. Some people just don’t have that courage, they don’t want to throw their burdens onto someone else. I encourage people to ask more, ‘Are you alright?’ ‘Is everything OK?’ Then follow up with, ‘Are you sure?’. These small questions may be the difference between life and death.”
“I wanted to use the fundraiser to encourage those who have trouble reaching out to come along on the day. If they didn’t want to hit, they could sit and watch, and talk. Either way, they wouldn’t be alone. We’d all be in it together.”
With a date set, Jim promoted the event through the gym and on his social channels. Supporters shared his posts to spread the word further. Bookings flowed in as people signed up for the 48 available slots, each 30 minutes long. They would take him on over 10 two-minute rounds with a 30 second break. Some doubled up, some shared their spots with friends. Contributions flowed in to the donations page.
On the day, 53 supporters donned the gloves as Jim held the pads.
Well over 100 people turned up to show their support - and talk, just as Jim had hoped. There was food, music, a DJ and a village of supporters throwing their encouragement behind Jim as the hours wore on.
“They were unleashing. Some were friends, some were from the gym, and some I didn’t even know. If they didn’t want to hit, but still wanted to support, they watched from the sidelines. People were speaking to each other the whole time.”
“I had a good support system. My mates, mum, sister, colleagues from the gym, my manager made sure there was a DJ - and energy drinks. It motivated me every time someone came in and said ‘keep going’.
“The cheering got me to the end, but it was never about me. I always said, ‘Don’t come and support me, come and support the cause’.”
Support the cause they did.
An exhausted but ecstatic Jim smashed his goal of $5,000 to raise an incredible $9,000. That’s enough for 225 people to attend a life changing, and sometimes life saving, Gotcha4Life workshop where they’ll learn the skills Jim values so highly - building mental fitness, staying connected to others, and reaching out for support when you’re struggling.
“I’m lost for words. I have always wanted to do something positive. I thought if I could help one person that’s a lot in itself - but if I can help 225 people, wow, it was worth it all.”
“My body hurt, but it was for a cause bigger than me. I knew I’d heal and I’d do it all again tomorrow if I had to.
“It doesn’t matter what life throws at you, what matters is who’s beside you. Just make sure whoever you got, got you too. You don’t need all the friends in the world, you just need that one friend to walk in when the rest of the world walks out.
“I hope I inspired someone - and remember, check in on your people.”
Jim, you’ve inspired more people than you’ll ever know!
