Help Kylie raise money

After retiring from boxing in 2020, I struggled silently with the loss. At first, I was happy with my choice as we found out we were pregnant with my second son who is now three. I knew that the sport came with a lot of risk, and it was in my best interests to hang up my gloves. 

A year after my son was born, I started to miss boxing. I began to feel depressed, lost, frustrated and hopeless. I had no idea who I was without boxing. I lined up a fight in 2023 and was determined to make boxing work again… But, faith would have it that the fight would fall through leaving me feeling defeated. 

More time passed, and I started to notice frequent mood fluctuations, higher levels of forgetfulness and bouts of depression that could last anywhere from hours to days to weeks. The depression would come with a feeling of dread for what my future looked like. 

Again, more time passed and it’s now 2024. I have accepted that I am no longer an active boxer and the fight falling through was a blessing in disguise. I am in a much better place. I have learned that my mental health can be managed through a healthy lifestyle. I am much more regimented because if I fail to take care of my health, I notice a rapid decline in how I feel, think and behave. 

I recently began studying neuroscience on my own through listening to podcasts. That led me to believing I have suspected CTE due to multiple concussions from boxing. Even if I do have CTE, I won’t let that define me. If it’s there, the only thing I can do is continue to take care of my health to the best of my ability and to learn all that I can about living with suspected CTE. 

I am now enrolled in online university, aiming for my degree in psychology. I decided to take part in this non profit foundation (CLF) to help raise money for those suffering from CTE. It’s not just athletes who suffer with suspected CTE, but also abuse victims or car accident survivors (just to name a couple). 

I will be running on May 25th in honour of CLF. Any amount of money is appreciated as it will go directly to The Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada.