Rock N’ Rumble XV – Noah French Gearing Up For Fight Night

Westwood’s Noah French is lacing up the gloves for a cause and will enter the ring May 7 at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway with one thing on his mind – his brother Zachary.
 
“It all started when Haymakers For Hope Alumni and Westwood Resident Eric Sonis brought up the idea of participating in the event,” said Noah. “Then came a conversation around dinner with the kids. We talked about dedicating yourself to hard work, understanding you might be embarrassed in front of a few thousand people if you lose. I felt it was good timing to show the kids they shouldn’t be scared to try hard things and accept new challenges.”
 
Eric introduced Noah to Alex Badlissi, who had been training him recently, and coincidentally was opening a new Boxing Gym in Needham Center called Forged Fitness and Boxing. Everything seemed to come together at once.
 
Why?
 
This is Noah’s story. He’s embarked on this journey to honor his brother, Zachary Adam French.
 
“He’s my ‘Small Fry,’ and his light continues to guide me even though he is no longer with us,” said Noah, “We lost him in 2009 just after my daughter, Mia, was born. She was the only one to meet him. My middle child, Kenji, carries his name as his middle name and my youngest shares his birthday of July 26. This was a monumental feat by my wife as July 26 was nowhere near her due date!”
 
Getting your body and mind in shape, as an amateur with no boxing experience, has been an incredible, but rewarding challenge.
 
“I fight with a heart full of both gratitude and grief,” he said. “I celebrate the incredible strides in research that fueled my mother’s fierce victory over breast cancer and granted us more precious years with my father through the miracle of stem cell research. These victories are proof of what is possible.
 
“But I also fight with the heavy heart of a parent. No parent should ever have to endure the unnatural pain of outliving their child. I am raising these funds so that one day, no other family has to say goodbye too soon, and so that the fear of this disease is finally replaced by the certainty of a cure.”
 
You can learn more about Noah’s training and join the crowd in Boston on May 7 by securing your tickets at bit.ly/noahfrench – all of us will be standing with Noah as he fights to keep Zachary’s memory alive.