Don't you hate having those weeks at work where it's just one big deadline after another? People asking you to do a million different things? Not being able to rely on your team to deliver what you ask of them? The to-do list never getting shorter?
Can you imagine going home to see your family after that grueling day for only an hour or so then going back to work again?
Tough right? Okay now can you imagine having that kind of day and then getting in a car or on a plane to go visit soldiers or sick people in a hospital? When was the last time you volunteered for a cause of any sort?
While Zuffa has done a great, no,make that a phenomenal job at supporting the troops it's great to see fighters have the same initiative all on their own.
Take Mike Swick for example. In my opinion, the guy is training for the biggest fight of his career. He'll face Dan Hardy at UFC 105 November 14th in England. The winner of the fight will get a title shot against Georges St Pierre. November 14th is less than one month away! Not only is he training hard (remember he has a lot of pent up energy since he wasn't able to fight at UFC 103 as planned due to an injury), he's helping his team mates train for their upcoming fights, launching a new business (look for an announcement from me soon on that) but he also just got back from visiting soldiers at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. When asked about it he said "I think success is not measured by how much you make or how famous you are. I think it's measured on how much you can influence, give back and create change in peoples lives. I want to help and influence people in the same ways I was influenced growing up. The military loves the UFC and I do everything I can to show the military that the UFC loves them right back. Every time I go to base I hear how we influence the soldiers and it baffles me because it is they who influence us. They are the real heros."
Shane Carwin. He's set to face Brock Lesnar in a little over a month. Brock Lesnar. And having said that not only does he have his full time intense training sessions, he also helps his team mates get ready for their fights, and he's an engineer that does something fancy with hydraulics (I'm a girl I have no idea what that even means) but there are many days he'll set aside time to call an injured soldier. I can't even make time to call friends and family back after my 'job' and yet with all that is going on in his life right now (oh I forgot to mention he and his wife are also planning for their baby's arrival) he still goes above and beyond to show his admiration and respect for the soldiers.
Approximately 1.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder. Autism is seeing an annual growth of 10-17 percent. Diego Sanchez has taken interest in help raising funds for an alternative treatment known as Hyperbaric Chamber - forced oxygen, neuro-rehabilitating treatment. He took time out of his training schedule to sign autographs and meet fans at last week's Grapplers Quest in Long Beach. All proceeds from the first 150 tickets sold at the door raised $3,000 to help pay for one full month of treatment for a child.
There are many other fighters than those mentioned above that are known for supporting good causes.
As a way of thanking the fighters for their efforts, go to their site and leave an inspiring comment, buy one of their tshirts or follow them on twitter! Let them know their efforts are appreciated.
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