Wrestling Charity Proves A Small Package Can Go A Long Way

A new, innovative charity called WrestleCares has been making sure underprivileged children don’t go without in the lead up to Christmas. The wrestling-themed charity has been showing the world that wrestling fans care, and delivering a massive bear hug – socially distanced, of course – to those in need by delivering toys to children across Hull and Yorkshire.

The non-profit, donation-based organisation has been celebrating its one year anniversary by giving underprivileged kids something to cheer about this holiday period, and earning some “this is awesome” chants of their own from the local community. Volunteers Andy, Ash, Dan – and their mascot Teddie – have been collect donations this December via their Christmas appeal, before arranging and re-distributing them – with kids in Hull, Sheffield and beyond receiving caps, figures, DVDs and much more featuring their favourite WWE Superstars.

Not only that, but charity has also been rewarding children to have helped others. One young man named Dalton being rewarded for raising £1,000 for his local hospital by selling his toys, so WrestleCares replaced them with some brand-new wrestling figures!

Each box is tailor-made for its recipient, too, with a note accompanying the box saying what values its Superstar of choice expresses, with Jeff Hardy boxes encouraging creativity and being yourself, John Cena boxes endorsing his “hustle, loyalty, respect” motto and Finn Balor boxes representing his journey from Ireland, showing that you can do whatever you want if you set your mind to it. Every box has the heartwarming message, “We hope these gifts bring the same love and joy to you from professional wrestling that we had as children.”

Another young man named Alex, who lives with Tourette’s Syndrome, was also the recipient of a care box featuring a Funko Pop Vinyl of Diesel, a Bray Wyatt figure and much more. That particular cause is one that resonates with Dan French, who lives with the same condition – as well as OCD – and has been part of the team working to put smiles on the faces of young wrestling fans across Yorkshire. Dan told Inside The Ropes‘ Lead Writer Gary Cassidy why he does it.

“I do it for two reasons. One, because it combines my two passions in life, wrestling and giving back. Two, I grew up with Tourette’s Syndrome and I know how much it would mean to me if I were ten years old again.”