What can I say except….THEY DID IT!!! Melissa Langer and Gretchen Toorock-Cook, fighting out of Striking Beauties under the brilliant coaching of Jaime “the Hurricane” Clampitt Hayes, are the 2010 National Women’s Golden Gloves Champions in the 119lb and 152 lb divisions, respectfully. These 2 amazing women- Melissa, an orthopedic physician’s assistant  and Gretchen, an attorney and proprietor of “Ruff Life” doggy daycare,  put in hours and hours of grueling training over the past 8 weeks and it paid off! Congratulations Melissa & Gretchen…..  for your relentless dedication and for bringing the Championship titles back to New England!. You are both TRUE CHAMPIONS!

Speaking of true champions, I hope you all had an opportunity to watch the Women’s Nationals on LiveWebcast. These women, and young girls, were unbelievable. The talent, the skill, the technique, the stamina and the courage…absolutely awe inspiring! And this year while training for the National championships, these girls  had something more to motivate them—the Olympics! Finally , what every female amateur boxer has dreamed, women will be boxing in the 2012 Olympics! Without a doubt, 2012 is going to put women’s boxing on the List of “What Every Girl Should Do…”! And if the 2010  Women’s National Golden Gloves was any indication of the talent that will represent the United States at the Olympics, LOOK OUT WORLD!!  Ladies….It’s our time to shine!!!

Congratulations to Gretchen and Melissa!!! Gretchen won a medal at the Women’s National Golden Gloves yesterday and Melissa won her fight!! Melissa’s championship bout is Saturday night so wish her luck!!

I don’t know how many of you have ever participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, but if you have not yet experienced this overnight event…DO IT! This year, as well as last year,  we hosted demonstrations of our Teen Boxing Class and our Traditional Adult Boxing class. However, this was our first year raising money as “Team Striking Beauties”. A SPECIAL THANKS to all of our team members, gym members and friends for all of your efforts and support! Together, we raised over $2800! We also spent the night walking the North Attleboro track, watching movies on the big screen tv and camping out in sleeping bags and a tent! What a magical, emotional evening. Walking the track and reading all of the names of loved ones lost to this horrible disease, then seeing the comforting words HOPE and CURE spelled out in the glow of the candles lining the bleachers. There is nothing more uplifting than being in the presence of hundreds of people who have come together for a single purpose. People who may never have met before but who share the same sadness over losing a loved one as well as the same determination to eradicate this deadly disease. The atmosphere was one of power and strength, of tears and laughter, of love and disgust and of peace and tranquility. It was a magical, emotional night never to be forgotten.

A very, very special thank you to all of our members, family and friends who donated and helped us reach our goal. You supported “Team Striking Beauties” in so many ways.  Thank you.

And the night would not have been as nearly as successful were it not for these wonderful women-Helena, Kathy, Sharryn, Sandra, Kali, Serin, Tracey, Sherri, and Rachel. Without your relentless money raising, you tireless walking and your passionate dedication, Team Striking Beauties would never have reached Bronze level!

Lastly, an extra special thank you to my children and husband for all of your help and support.

Looking forward to next year’s Relay for Life and determined to make it even more successful than this year’s event!

14 AWESOME, TALENTED, POWERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, TOUGH & GUTSY WOMEN!!! Doctors, lawyers, nurses, students, moms, daughters and more…all in the ring today!!! I am in awe of all of you!!! From those that have been doing this for years to the ones who stepped into the ring for the first time today, all I can say is WOW!!! You should be so proud of yourselves!

And you know, it is women like you that make the future brighter for the young girls of today. In just the short time that Striking Beauties has been open, my daughters and I have been exposed to some of the brightest, strongest, most tenacious, hard-working, passionate women. I may have spent the last 20 years practicing law with many educated, outspoken female attorneys but it has been the past 10 months in the gym that have introduced me to the most impressive, supportive, motivating and gutsy women. Women that don’t let you quit, women that have your back, women that hold your baby while your hitting the heavy bag or sparring in the ring, women that inspire you with their words of wisdom and their shouts of encouragement… Women that make me proud to be a woman! You know why? Cuz WE ROCK!!!