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Prez Paul introduced Mandy Bujold. Mandy is a Kitchener retired boxer that was a two time Olympian. She medaled at Pan-American games and Commonwealth games fighting in the flyweight division. She also won a legal precedent at the Court of Arbitration for Sport where the ruling was that the qualification system mist accommodate pregnant and post partum women. She now works for the Grand River Construction Association. Mandy shared that her family got her brothers interested in boxing. In her younger years she was not athletic and didn't do well in sports.. She did love punching the bag hanging in her parents basement. The family moved to Kitchener where there has been a history of boxing gyms. She had to wait until her brother found other interests before she joined. She did face discouragement from the trainers but she persevered. After a year she was encouraged to go into competition and found she was more than good. E Her job now is to promote women in the trades, Her early training in the male dominated gym is very similar to the stress that a women feels in the trades. At the moment only 6% of the trades are occupied by women. . She mentioned that electricians and HVac are popular trades. The Grand Valley construction Association is funded by local contractors. Some of the services that they provide is on Health and Safety. Lately there is more emphasis on Health. Ways to prevent injury. She points out that atheletes warm up before their games. This helps prevent injury. Physio and Massage help in the healing process. In the process of retiring from boxing she started the Champions for Charity. The second event was held this spring where former presidents of this club Erica and Jim McPherson trained for this Black Tie Boxing event ./ I think over $300000 was raised for the Hamilton Children"s Hospital. Mandy's goal for 2025 is $500000. Tryouts are in November. Paul C failed his medical but Todd , Rena and Heidi might be next in line. Jim McPherson thanked Mandy for coming . And Prez Paul gave the traditional Rotarion thanks where we vaccinate 10 children for polio.. Todd told a lame joke about his renovations. |
