Wrestling With Hunger begins!

After almost two years of planning our 20 Wrestler - 3 Day - 1 World Record - Fill the Food Bank “Wrestling With Hunger” event started today at 2pm.

We held an opening ceremony of sorts when we introduced all twenty wrestlers one-by-one into the ring then posed for photos from the press.   We had to quickly empty the ring and the first match began.

As of this writing, we have (I would guess) 200lbs of food which has been brought into the venue.  Our good friends at “This Wrestling Life” dropped off a few bags and community leaders Sandy and Cathy Burpee also added to the growing stack.  Heather Scott from SHARE was also at the opening and set up a display booth highlighting all the good works her organization does in our community.

The wrestlers have taken over one of the change rooms which is our “green room” we have tables of food setup and a couple of TVs where video games and old wrestling videos / DVDs are being viewed.

A rotating schedule is not in place so some of the wrestlers are sleeping, others are relaxing and others are wrestling.  Our team of volunteers are working to keep everyone on schedule; the website updated and fans informed as to what is going on.

We have had over 100 people come in and out over the first 4 1/2 hours. Some are perplexed, some are curious, some are fans and some are now new fans.  All of them are told what the event is about and encouraged to return with cans of food for the food bank.

We are having a blast!  Hopefully you will check us out and make a donation or ten.

Wrestling With Hunger Weekend proclaimed in Port Coquitlam

It was an odd scene at Port Coquitlam City Hall last night when 15 or so wrestlers and volunteers from Wrestling With Hunger sat in on the start of the meeting.  Sure some of the city staffers, general public and even City Councillors looked a bit confused but this just added to the fun of it all.

The City of Port Coquitlam have been great in being the host city for this inannual Wrestling With Hunger event.  Last night Mayor Greg Moore proclaimed April 2nd to 5th “Wrestling With Hunger” weekend.

I gave a five minute Powerpoint presentation outlining the details of the event.  Heather Scott from SHARE Family & Community Services talked about the need at the food banks and what sort of food should be dontated during this drive.

After the presentation, Mayor Moore read the following proclamation:

Whereas:  Reducing and eventually elliminating hunger in our Province is a priority in our city; and

Whereas:  SHARE Family Services is committed to the fight against hunger and provides an important service to thousands of meedy people who depend on food banks in order to feed themselves and their families; and

Whereas:  A partnership of individuals, organizations and businesses have a role to play in helping SHARE with their initiatives; and

Whereas:  “Wrestling With Hunger” is organizing the inaugural fundraising world record attempt in aid of our local food banks.

Now therefore:  I, Greg Moore, Mayor of the Corporation of The City of Port Coquitlam, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM

April 2nd to 5th, 2009

“Wrestling With Hunger Weekend”

After some photos in the hallways which will hopefully make their way into the press we headed back to the wrestling school (Slam Academy) where most of the wrestlers continued training for their three days of wrestling.

If you can watch the video of the presentation below.  Again, thank-you Mayor Moore and the City of Port Coquitlam for your great support!

Enjoy!

Going over the details with the wrestlers

This morning most of the wrestlers in Wrestling With Hunger and a number of support volunteers came out to a meeting at our wrestling school (The Slam Academy).  The energy was awesome!

We went over just how the schedule of matches will be created, when and what will be served for meals, shared media exposure and generally getting pumped up for the big event which is less than two weeks away.

I still am blown away by the support these wrestlers are giving to his endeavor.  Giving up school, work, time from their family, etc. in order to help the hungry in our community.

Also - did I mention a documentary crew was there to film?  I will have to go into more detail in a future post.

I gave out a list of “stuff” the wrestlers should pack for their three day adventure.  Part of the requirements of the world record is that the wrestlers cannot leave the venue.

Did I miss anything from the list below?

CLOTHES
- lots of towels, for after matches and showers
- shaving and shower kit (shampoo, deodorant, etc)
- garbage bag for dirty clothes
- as many underwear and socks as you can bring
- gym workout clothes
- sandals
- comfortable clothes for hanging around (including after party)
- your Wrestling With Hunger T-shirt
- refs - wear your Wrestling With Hunger T-Shirt and black pants

ENTERTAINMENT
- iPod and charger
- DVDs
- cell phone and charger
- camcorder and charger
- laptop and charger
- digital camera and charger
- books / magazines
- NOTE: we will have a TV and DVD

SLEEPING
- pillows
- sleeping bag
- blankets
- toque
- warm clothes / PJs
- ear plugs / eye mask

WRESTLING
- ALL the wrestling gear, boots, etc. you have

OTHER
- protein bars / shakes / cups
- aspirin / ibuprofen

FOOD
- we are supplying you with three meals a day
- if you want to bring more items, there is a fridge, stove and microwave

Tomorrow we do more media then head over to Port Coquiltam City Hall where I will do a presentation to City Council and the Mayor Greg Moore will proclaim April 2nd to 5th “Wrestling With Hunger Weekend”!  This will be fun!

Photo shoot at the food bank

Just getting back from the Food Bank in Port Moody where three wrestlers - Scotty Mac, Cole Bishop and Jamie Diaz - along with referee Robert Mitchell posed with volunteers and staff while the two local papers took photos.

Everyone had a blast.  I mean, it is not that often when guys in spandex wander into your place of work, pick up the the boss (in this case SHARE Family & Community Services Society Chair, John Wolff), toss him around a bit and take photos.

We will have copies of the news stories up on the site once published.

More photos will be up soon - including one of the volunteers (Beth) who took great pride in pinning both Scotty and Cole.  I think we made some new fans today.

Media picking up on Wrestling With Hunger

Since putting out our first press release two days ago, we have received a lot of attention from the media.

Yesterday, three interviews.  Today, two photo ops.  Tomorrow three more interviews.  Next week setting up many more.

This is exactly what we need to be successful - exposure.  The true goal is to get the community involved with organizing food drives at their schools, churches, businesses and organizations so we can fill the food banks.  Hopefully this media coverage helps.

We just uploaded to the website a PDF of an 8.5″ x 11″ mini-poster you can use to help promote your food drive.  If you are organizing a food drive, let us know at info@wrestlingwithhunger.com so we can help promote on our website.

Just two weeks until Wrestling With Hunger begins - April 2nd - 2pm!