Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Trevor Clark, CEO of Fight for the Cure), legendary MMA fighter George St-Pierre and TSN’s James Duthie at Fight for the Cure at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Oct. 3, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson-Abdulla/OBJ.
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Event Date: 10/03/2026 Organizer: Fight for the Cure
This year’s Fight for the Cure packed a punch for cancer care, raising a record-breaking $1.7 million for cancer care and research!
Fourteen Ottawa community leaders traded business attire for boxing gloves on Saturday night for Fight for the Cure’s biggest ever event, complete with a new venue and charitable cause. The 2026 event was held at the Rogers Centre and fundraising benefits cancer care at The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
The energy was palpable as more than 1,000 supporters filled the venue for an evening of amateur boxing. Friends, family, colleagues and community leaders gathered ringside, cheering on their chosen fighters as they went toe-to-toe.
In total, there were seven boxing matches. The 14 participants spent eight months training, fundraising and preparing for their moment in the ring. For many, the challenge was about more than winning a bout — it was about stepping outside their comfort zones to help build a stronger future for cancer patients and families in Ottawa and beyond.
The 2026 lineup included Eric Bellemare, Matthew Bobbie, Matt Champagne, Justin De Sa, Michael Hauschild, Andrew Herman, Justin Houle, Kathleen Kealey, Phil Laplante, Adam Livingston, Mike McKay, Erin Meisner, Justin Strong and Noah Vineberg.
From the anticipation before the opening bell to the cheers after each match, Fight for the Cure delivered a night where competition, camaraderie and philanthropy shared the spotlight — all in support of better cancer care and research.
The 2026 event also launched the Bill Deslauriers Community Champion Award. Boxer Justin Houle received the honour for raising more than $210,000.
Scott Whitteker (Fight for the Cure), Susie Laewen (Fight for the Cure), Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Trevor Clark (Fight for the Cure) attended Fight for the Cure at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Oct. 3, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson-Abdulla/OBJ.Lindsey Best (Ext.Tech Landscape Management Software) and Ed Hansen (Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association) with event sponsors Julie and Duane Francis (Duane Francis Wealth Management) at Fight for the Cure at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Oct. 3, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson-Abdulla/OBJ.Andrew Pollon-MacLeod (NutriChem), Yasser Ghazi (RBC), and Dr. Behn Banihashemi (Cardiac Longevity Clinic) at Fight for the Cure at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Oct. 3, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson-Abdulla/OBJ.Bill Deslauriers, very prominent in Ottawa’s boxing community, has been a coach with Fight for the Cure (FFTC) for years.This year he was diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing treatment at the Ottawa Cancer Centre. FFTC started an award in his honour. The award honours the fighter with the highest fundraising amount at Fight for the Cure at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Oct. 3, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson-Abdulla/OBJ.Dr. Catherine Kyeremanteng and her husband Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng (critical care and palliative physician, The Ottawa Hospital) attended Fight for the Cure at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Oct. 3, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson-Abdulla/OBJ.Matthew Bobbie and his team walked out to his bout at Fight for the Cure at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Oct. 3, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson-Abdulla/OBJ.Eric Bellemare (Red Team) and Matthew Bobbie (Blue Team) in the ring at Fight for the Cure at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Oct. 3, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson-Abdulla/OBJ.Adam Livingston takes the win against Justin Strong at Fight for the Cure at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Oct. 3, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson-Abdulla/OBJ.Shauna Bradley (Heart and Crown), wife of fighter Matt Champagne, fought last year. Her father, Larry Bradley, was the first sponsor of FFTC. Photo by Tia MacPherson-Abdulla/OBJ.Phil Laplante celebrates his win in the heavyweight fight against Matt Champagne. Pictured at Fight for the Cure at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Oct. 3, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson-Abdulla/OBJ.Roberto Gutierrez (GC Brothers International Inc. and FFTC coach), Erin Meisner (DFSIN Ottawa and boxer at FFTC) and Justin Houle (PCL Construction and boxer at FFTC) at Rogers Centre Ottawa on Oct. 3, 2026. Photo by Tia MacPherson-Abdulla/OBJ.
