Kelowna residents are stepping up to take and give a punch inside the boxing ring to support local charity.

These 乌鸦传媒渢hree round heroes乌鸦传媒� received three months of training from local boxing gym Los Gatos Locos all the while helping to support local outreach programs keep their doors open with fundraising.

乌鸦传媒淭hree round heroes are people that come from our community, looking to fight for their community,乌鸦传媒� said Los Gatos Locos coach Geoff Lawrence.

People that had never boxed in their lives up until earlier this year took on the challenge to help recovery homes in the Okanagan stay open.

Business people, musicians, tree-planters and even former recovery home residents have signed up this year.

Joseph Dube is one of those people, a former recovery house resident who has turned his life around.

乌鸦传媒淔or me, it was a way to learn certain disciplines, and for me to challenge my anxieties and stress,乌鸦传媒� said Dube at the start of his training in April.

乌鸦传媒淭hey have me sparring against experienced fighters, and putting yourself through those higher and higher tests, it gives you a confidence. Having done that and proved to myself that I乌鸦传媒檝e actually done pretty well, it gives me a new level of confidence in myself.乌鸦传媒�

Dube is one of four former recovery house residents competing in the boxing tournament this year.

READ MORE: Fighting for charity with local boxing club

This is the third year of the charity fights, but the support for outreach programs and recovery homes in Kelowna is a year-round endeavour for Los Gatos Locos.

Lawrence offers nine-month training programs to recovery home residents, which is helped funded by the support from the heroes. In the past two years, the heroes have raised more than $30,000.

乌鸦传媒淧eople, if you give them the chance, they really do want to make a difference, especially in their own community,乌鸦传媒� said Lawrence.

乌鸦传媒淎nd something about the fact that their fighting for their community, and actually fighting for it, appeals to people to become a three-round hero.乌鸦传媒�

In addition, the charity matches will be followed by sanctioned amateur fights. There are just under 10 matches scheduled between the 乌鸦传媒渢hree round heroes乌鸦传媒� and 10 amateur fights, with the main event being the Men乌鸦传媒檚 Elite 69kg championship.

READ MORE: Kelowna marathoner bests former Canucks at Vancouver race

Lawrence donates the time, training, resources and production of the show as his part of fighting for his community. He said that it乌鸦传媒檚 a feel-good rush and he loves the atmosphere of being around regular people turned back-yard gladiators who乌鸦传媒檙e looking to better their communities.

乌鸦传媒�3 Round Heroes乌鸦传媒� are just over a week from their charity boxing matches. Fighters have raised more than $30K in the past 2 years for outreach programs in Kelowna. Stay tuned to for a preview on the July 6 fights.

乌鸦传媒� Mack Britton (@MackBrittonBC)

乌鸦传媒淕oing to keep donating and fighting for the community, because we care for our community, for as long as I乌鸦传媒檓 here.乌鸦传媒�

The charity fight is July 6 at the Rutland Centennial Hall.

Email geoffmadkats@gmail.com for information, tickets and donations.

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