A boxing gym in Woburn is knocking out mental health stigmas one punch at a time

WOBURN, Mass. — May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In Woburn, a boxing gym is acknowledging the month with a campaign to knockout stigmas associated with mental illness.

At Title Boxing Club in Woburn, fighting mental health stigmas happens one punch at a time.

“A bad day personally we all have them. Just to be able to instead of taking it out in other ways to be able to hit one of these and just be around people, the music playing, the trainers explaining the combinations that you got to throw it just takes that away,” says Gary Porzio, Title Boxing Club member.

Porzio has been boxing for 5 years.

“I needed to get off the couch, says Porzio.

On Saturday, he joined one hundred other people for the gym’s second “Knockout Stigma” campaign. For every participant, funds will be donated to the non-profit organization “Bring Change to Mind” to increase awareness around mental health.

“Everyone is battling something, and they come here and take out all their stress on the bags,” says Lauren Macaulay, Title Boxing Club Owner in Woburn.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five adults live with mental illness in the United States. Trainer, Christine Giancola encourages people to talk about what they’re going through so stigmas around mental health don’t persist.

“I feel like everyone wants to feel they are not alone so having a big community all coming in fighting that same fight just to feel better, says Giancola.

Porzio recommends anyone struggling mentally should give boxing a try.

“You’re in a good spot afterwards, you feel great, says Porzio.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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