Back in June, Groove Properties Director Nick Madden put the gloves on and stepped into the ring for the corporate charity event, Fight for a Cause. Groove has always been known as one of the many companies that sponsor charity events, but getting into the ring was a whole new experience. From intense training to spreading awareness, let’s learn all about Fight for a Cause and how it panned out for our fearless director.
What is Fight For A Cause?
Fight for a Cause is a Brisbane-based charity organisation that hosts boxing events to raise money and spread awareness. Members of the business community are encouraged to sign up, complete a 10-week training program and then step into the ring on event night. A specific charity is chosen for each event, with plenty of fundraising activities contributing along the way.
The charity – Destiny Rescue
The charity for Nick’s event was Destiny Rescue, a global organisation committed to rescuing children from human trafficking and exploitation. The charity works around the world, in Latin America, Asia and Africa, helping to free children from horrible situations and supporting them as they heal. Needless to say, it made the fundraising work and training far easier knowing that it would benefit such a worthwhile charity.
A new challenge
Aside from the charity aspect, which is always the main focus, Nick stated that the idea of a new challenge was something he was looking forward to. Having played team sports for years but with those days in the past, Nick wanted a new challenge to commit to.
While no stranger to physical training, and having a sporting background, Nick had never done any boxing before and decided it was now or never. The training was intense, basically two times a day. Despite injuries along the way, Nick’s approach was similar to how he goes about his work.
“I didn’t want to go into this and say, I trained half the time and didn’t really commit. I wanted to give it my all and train as hard as I could,” reflected Nick.
The perfect fit for our values
A lot of people would rightly question Nick for jumping into a boxing ring with just 10 weeks of training. But as the training went on it became pretty obvious that this type of charity event was a perfect fit, considering the values that Groove Properties has been built on.
The program required commitment and a lot of discipline, especially with the extent of training required. Nick simply had to commit and make it work, even with plenty of other commitments such as running a business and having kids playing their own chosen sports.
Ultimately, it was about having a goal, committing to it, and ensuring you do everything in your power to achieve results. Seeing the dedication that Nick showed to the program, it’s clear to see why Groove Properties has developed a reputation for excellence.
A commitment to the community
While corporate boxing was something a little different, Nick and the Groove team are no strangers to giving back to the community. They love to do at least one significant charity event each year, and sometimes it’s 2 or 3. From Nick’s previous endeavours building homes in Fiji to supporting numerous charity events, Groove Properties is committed to giving back.
It’s also about raising plenty of money for a worthwhile charity. Nick explained that all Fight For a Cause boxers are asked to sell two tables at the event, so he went over and above, selling four tables. Without going into the numbers, it was certainly pleasing to help raise funds for Destiny Rescue.
The other important factor is spreading awareness. Simply through Nick’s involvement in the event, many people in the Groove Properties network gained more understanding of the issues many children face around the world.
As Nick said, “It’s nice to give back, but also to reflect on just how lucky we are.”
What’s next for Groove?
Groove plans to continue being involved in charity events and fundraisers in the future. Whether that’s inside the boxing ring or elsewhere, it remains to be seen, but Nick and the team are committed to giving back where they can.
If you’d like to know more about Fight For A Cause, check their website here.
For more information on Destiny Rescue and its charity operations, find it here.
