Pitch2Punch: We’ve Done the Pitching, Now Let’s do the Punching…

“Pitch2Punch” is one of the most prestigious social occasions for Sydney’s marketing and media industry. The July 28 event features a fully sanctioned amateur boxing bout that raises funds and awareness for nonprofit Beyond Blue to help fight anxiety and depression across Australia.

As a boxing participant, I can personally attest to the fact that while Pitch2Punch is emotionally and physically draining, it has helped me learn to roll with the punches and to get back up when I’ve been knocked down—an important lesson for everyone.

Organized by Gareth Eden-Styche and the team at Shambles Communications, Pitch2Punch is a great opportunity to meet some top industry people (agency folks, tech guys, creatives, vendors, and publishers), get fit, learn how to box, and then get in the ring and go toe-to-toe against colleagues. The event will include 10 live bouts as well as a black-tie gala dinner, live entertainment, auctions, raffles, and more.

Training is held three to six times a week at 8LIMBS gym in Bondi Junction. Trainers Chris Suares and Sebastian Coorey-Coombes ensure that participants leave each and every session with new skills… while also questioning our decision to sign up for three months of painful abdominal crunching.

Of course, the real reason why we are doing what we’re doing is to raise awareness of and money for Beyond Blue. Most Australians have some experience with anxiety, depression, or related disorders—whether it is personal or via family, friends or colleagues. The group raises awareness, reduces stigma and ensures people have access to the information they need to support recovery, management and resilience.

Beyond Blue is a national, independent, not-for-profit organisation and a bipartisan initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments. Its work is aimed at achieving a community that understands depression and anxiety, empowering all Australians—at any life stage—to seek help.

Well it’s time for me to throw in the towel on this blog post and get back to training for Pitch2Punch. I really enjoy the training, camaraderie, and overall experience, not to mention the discipline. (Did I mention I work in advertising yet gave up alcohol for three months?)

I highly encourage those of you reading this to attend Pitch2Punch on 28 July—and to consider signing up to train for next year’s event. If you want to see what it’s all about, raise funds and awareness for Beyond Blue, and help fight anxiety and depression across Australia, then click here. You won’t believe what happens next! (Spoiler alert: You can buy tickets or donate money.)

Joe “Two First Names” James.