Help Anju raise money

I am entering the ring in Fight To End 2023 (#FTE2023) to raise funds for Youth Opportunity Unlimited (YOU). YOU supports around 3,600 youth yearly by giving them access to health care, education and employment services while helping them address their basic needs. They need our help to make their new initiative, Joan’s Place, a reality.

Joan’s Place has the potential to change the lives of 200+ Londoners daily. It will provide secure housing, mental health care, addiction services, education and employment support to local youth. This all-encompassing hub aims to break the cycle of homelessness by giving the youth, young mothers and mothers-to-be the support they need to live happily and independently.

WHY I'M FIGHTING: THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE

The punches I throw on fight day will be more than just a symbolic gesture against homelessness.

As a lawyer and advocate for survivors of sexual assault and abuse, I see the cycle of homelessness and sexual violence play out in my clients’ lives and in the London community. Boxing in the Fight to End is my way of raising awareness and funds to combat this complex issue.

THE FACTS AND FIGURES

Homeless people are more likely to have been victims of physical and sexual abuse as children, and victims of family/intimate-partner violence as adults. 

Let’s talk numbers.

A Toronto study of 300 homeless people found that 49% of women and 16% of homeless men experienced childhood sexual abuse compared with rates of 13% and 4% in the general population (Mental Health Policy Research Group, 1998).

25% of women experiencing visible homelessness (living in shelters or rough sleeping) cited domestic abuse as a factor leading to their most recent housing loss. (Employment and Social Development Canada, 2017).

The cycle is cruel. Many victims find themselves trapped in violent situations without safe housing options. Returning to an abusive house or facing further victimization on the streets are often the only available options. To make matters worse, sexual violence leaves people with physical, emotional, and financial challenges that make it harder to escape homelessness.

PLEASE JOIN ME

This fight is about more than boxing. It's about breaking cycles, giving voice to the voiceless, and ensuring everyone finds safety, sanctuary, and dignity. 

If you would like to join me in championing a future free from violence and homelessness, please consider donating. Thank you for your support.