In The Ring
Roaring Rumble Benefits Raising Shasta Kids…
Liz Crain has never been in a fight, has never participated in team sports and candidly admits she’s not an athlete. However, none of that will stop her next month from lacing up the boxing gloves and stepping into the ring for a sanctioned three-round match against Trish Baker, a woman Crain describes as “a force.”
Why? Because North State kids, many of whom are at risk, will benefit, Crain says. “Am I intimidated? Yes. But underdogs can win. I’m going to give it my all. But it’s for the kids. However it shakes out, if she wins or I win, it’s irrelevant.”
Crain and Baker are two of the 10 celebrity boxers scheduled to take part in Roaring Rumble, a fundraiser for Raising Shasta, a nonprofit that provides education, services and support for families with children aged from 0 to 18.
Jenna Berry, Raising Shasta’s director, says Roaring Rumble—now in its second year—is a nod to the boxing program her group offers at the Redding Teen Center. Kids aged 12 to 18 can take part in the Police Athletic League program daily from 3 to 6 pm; Berry says the sport promotes health, emotional resilience, discipline, focus and positive social development.
“We were thinking a fun fundraiser would be to have celebrities jump in the ring. It’s kind of out of the box and draws in different donors. It’s a fun way to explain what we do,” Berry says.
Raising Shasta, formerly known as Pathways to Hope, also operates the Anderson Teen Center, another fun and supportive space for teenagers. Camp HOPE, a weeklong retreat for kids who have experienced trauma is another popular resource. Berry says some 83 kids have gone through the boxing program with about 40 currently taking part on a consistent basis.
For Crain, who served Raising Shasta for four years through AmeriCorps and later managed the Anderson Teen Center, returning to participate in Roaring Rumble “is a full 360 for me.” A mother of two with twin grandsons, Crain now works with GO-Serve, a state organization promoting volunteerism and community engagement throughout California.
“When I did serve in AmeriCorps, I engaged my kids in our service work, like the MLK Day of Service March or preparing stuff for the holidays. Service is really important to myself and my family,” Crain says.
Helping children and families was all the motivation Baker needed to agree to step into the ring. “They said it was for child abuse prevention and I thought that was pretty cool,” Baker says. Although she says she’s never boxed, Baker describes herself as “pretty active.” She says she’s enjoying the training sessions she’s attending with Crain along with the bonding.
Baker, who sits on the Redding Rancheria Tribal Council and works as director of gaming at Win-River Casino, is boxing on behalf of the Rancheria; Crain has chosen to represent Leadership Redding (she’s a graduate of the 2018 class and serves on the Leadership Redding steering committee).
All the Roaring Rumble boxers are training with a coach certified by USA Boxing and the bouts—three rounds of three minutes each—will be overseen by a referee and judges. “It will be really safe. It’s a great way to see what kids go through to learn boxing: regulating emotions, the footwork, endurance. These are real matches,” Berry says.
Roaring Rumble also will feature another bout with female combatants. Hailey Devine, an engineer with the Anderson Fire Department, will square off against
Kilee Holroyd, a Shasta County Sheriff’s detective and K9 handler.
Representing Raising Shasta’s PAL boxing program will be a pair of young boxers: 11-year-old Rhylinh and 14-year-old Diego, who will compete against PAL boxers from Medford, Ore. Both are being coached by Daniel Arzate.
The male celebrities stepping into the Win-River Event Center ring will be Redding architect Ryan Russell, who will spar with Dutch Bros. co-owner Chris Resner; Redding physician Matt Moore, who will face physical therapist Christian Mercill; and DJ Ojay, who will mix it up with DJ Jake Easy.
To learn more about tickets and boxer sponsorships, visit raisingshasta.org/roaring-rumble •
