Canadian boxer pledges support for Have a Heart
Canadian boxing champ Steven Wilcox with children who received heart surgery at Health City
(CNS Local Life): Canadian boxing champ Steven “The Piranha” Wilcox has committed to supporting local charity Have a Heart Cayman Islands in his new role as a sports ambassador for Health City Cayman Islands (HCCI). Wilcox first became involved with the hospital through a visit to the Cayman Islands in January this year to participate in the Island Rumble boxing showcase, hosted by reigning World Boxing Organisation welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.
During that visit, Wilcox toured the medical facility and met with children being helped by Have a Heart to receive life-saving cardiac surgery at that hospital, stated an HCCI press release.
He will be donating proceeds to the charity from his next title event in his home town of Hamilton, Ontario, which is set for 3 June.
The holder of the World and North American boxing associations’ super lightweight title has throughout his career fought to benefit the Robbie Wilcox Foundation in aid of sick children in Hamilton. His elder brother, Robert Dino Wilcox, passed away at the age of 7 after battling brain cancer.
Have a Heart partners with local and international organisations to subsidise and provide life-saving heart surgeries at HCCI to children from around the world based on financial need.
Shortly after the boxing delegation visited the facility, Pacquiao announced that his Emmanuel and Jinkee’s Heart Foundation has teamed up with Have a Heart and HCCI on the charitable initiative to benefit children in his native Philippines.
The trip had a powerful impact on Wilcox, who decided to become a sports ambassador for the hospital providing these life-saving operations, according to the release.
“I lost my older brother at a very young age to brain cancer,” he said. “The Wilcox family is dedicated to helping charities supporting children with healthcare needs. Have a Heart Cayman Islands is an amazing organisation that we will be supporting at our hometown title belt events.”
Boxing is all in the family for Wilcox, who trains at Steeltown Boxing Club in Hamilton, where his father Bob Wilcox maintains a stable of professional and amateur boxers.
His brothers Spencer, Sheldon and Bradley are all current Canadian champions, and his brother Jessie is a professional boxer.
Steven Wilcox won the Canadian lightweight championship in 2013. He turned pro in 2012 after an amateur career with more than 180 fights.
Category: Medical and Health
