Thursday night at the RISE Boxing gym in Summit Park, coaches and fighters were fine-tuning their skills. The gym is preparing coaches and nine fighters for their upcoming charity fight night, Mountain Mettle, on Sept. 6.

Mountain Mettle will see 40 boxers lace up their gloves in the name of Parkinson’s Foundation and youth boxing scholarships. RISE is hoping to raise $20,000 for said causes through advertising, donations and ticket sales. 

This is RISE’s second year having the proceeds from Mountain Mettle go towards Parkinson’s. The gym is in their third year coaching classes for those with the disease. 

RISE founder MG Vellinga leads many of the classes at RISE. She said she was first approached by some with Parkinson’s in the community to lead classes, because boxing and physical activities can help improve motor skills and balance for people with the disease. Vellinga shortly after got a certification to better lead the classes. 

“When we started (Mountain Mettle), I just wanted to use our platform to do something more for the community,” Vellinga said. “When I started coaching and having more personal relationships with people who have Parkinson’s is really when I pivoted to making the Mountain Mettle a fundraiser just for the Parkinson’s Foundation. We also have a nonprofit that we started two years ago that helps facilitate youth scholarships for low-income kids in the community.”

Vellinga said the classes and fight nights are helping create visibility for those with Parkinson’s and who are underprivileged. Last year, they were able to donate $4,000 to the Parkinson’s Foundation, and word of the classes has continued to spread. 

This year, RISE hopes to raise $12,000 for youth scholarships and another $8,000 to create an exercise-focused app for people with Parkinson’s. The gym also participates in Live PC Give PC to help meet yearly fundraising goals. 

Nieve Stein is one of 40 boxers who will compete from 5-10 p.m. outside Park City Mountain’s Corner Store on the 6th, and the only returning fighter from RISE. Credit: Michael Ritucci/Park Record

“It’s one of the most diverse events you could go to in Park City,” Vellinga said of the fight night. “People have a misconception about boxing being just violent. … I want to show what a supportive environment the boxing community is, and also give a platform for our youth scholarship kids and the wider breadth of athletes in the state.”

Vellinga said boxing is a great tool to showcase what strength everyone has, whether the “average Joe,” someone with Parkinson’s or a kid whose family is struggling to make ends meet. She said she is thrilled every year to see Park City and others from out of town come together for those in need in the boxing community. 

Mike Granatowski is one of the RISE boxers with Parkinson’s. He’s been boxing since he was diagnosed with the disease about three-and-a-half years ago, and will be in the ring to showcase his improvements with Vellinga on Sept. 6. 

“My neurologist suggested I take a look at boxing, and I found out about this gym,” Granatowski said. “Came in here, and the first time I tried it, I fell in love with the whole idea.”

Granatowski trains three days a week with Vellinga and her staff. He said he doesn’t notice the disease’s symptoms when training and loves the community at RISE. He also said Vellinga and the other coaches don’t shy away from pushing him and the other boxers with Parkinson’s in order to help them improve. 

Granatowski said he had friends from all over tell him how powerful he looked in the ring last year at Mountain Mettle. He thinks he’s even quicker this year, and he’s excited to showcase that. 

“(Vellinga) wanted to show what Parkinson’s group has been doing,” Granatowski said. “My dad used to say, ‘the elder the bull, the stiffer the horn.’”

Brandis Turner will be lacing up her gloves for the first time at Mountain Mettle. She started boxing with RISE in 2020, and said she got some “positive peer pressure” to get into the ring. 

Turner is a former field hockey and rower, slated to face a fellow RISE boxer. She said she’s excited to prove to herself and others that she can fight. 

“It really brings out the community,” Turner said about Mountain Mettle. “My goal is to know that I pushed myself, punched hard and gave it my all.”

Turner said an added benefit will be showing her two sons, “don’t mess with Mom.” She’s a bit nervous, but excited to compete in a more spectator-laden sport than rowing.

Turner’s boys are already joining her for some beginner classes at RISE. She hopes boxing and all of its benefits are something they can grow to share with their mom. 

“It’s an elite training gym. You’re not going to get that everywhere,” Turner said. “Amateur Boxing, never thought I’d check that one off my resume.”

Mountain Mettle will run from 5-10 p.m., held outside Park City Mountain’s Corner Store. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for kids.

RISE founder MG Vellinga has been teaching Parkinson’s classes for three years now, and was thus inspired to help raise funds for the cause. Credit: Michael Ritucci/Park Record

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