‘They need help now;’ Charity boxing match raises funds for earthquake victims

A charity boxing match here in the Miami Valley is hoping to make a big difference from over 5,000 miles away.

>>PHOTOS: Turkey Earthquake Fundraiser

News Center 7′s Taylor Robertson says people gathered at the Ahiska Turkish Community Center in Dayton on Sunday to raise money for those hurt in the earthquake in Turkey.

“I’m saying, man, this is never going to stop,” said Margot Blondet. “They need help.”

Margot Blondet and her husband, Daniel, told Robertson after they saw the damage left behind by the earthquakes that rocked Turkey and Syria, they knew they had to do something.

>>Photos: Thousands killed in earthquake in Turkey and Syria

“And I say, well, you do your thing and I’ll do my thing,” said Daniel Meza-Cuadra. “And my thing is boxing, her thing is food. So, we both did it.”

Robertson says Daniel owns DMC Boxing in Centerville and Margot owns Salar in the Oregon District.

The couple called their friend, the founder of Ahiska Turkish Community Center in Dayton, to come up with a way they could help.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Turkish American Society holds bake sale to benefit earthquake victims

Together, they decided to put on a boxing exhibition where anybody could buy a $25 ticket to watch the fights.

“100% of the proceeds going to charity,” said Daniel.

The boxers were all local students with Turkish roots and Margot told Robertson that when they found out about the event, they were more than willing to help out.

“As soon as they learned that he was doing this,” she said. “All the kids wanted to help, so, they’re doing like a showing off. It’s like from little kids, from seven years-old to like, my age.”

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Local Turkish community center accepting donations for those impacted by deadly earthquake

Robertson reports all of the money will go to the Volunteer Community Kitchen in Haytay, a Turkish town devastated by the earthquakes.

As of now, the kitchen is able to feed 500 people a day, but it’s hoping to double that number.

“They can feed five people, three meals a day,” said Daniel.

“They don’t need help like a month from now,” Margot told Robertson. “They need help now because they’re hungry.”

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Turkey, Syria earthquake: Newborn, mother rescued from collapsed building as death toll rises

Robertson says there will be another fundraising event at Salar next Sunday, February 26, starting at 5 p.m.

It will feature meals from Turkish women living right here in the Miami Valley.

For information on how to buy tickets, visit this website.

Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
Photos from: Taylor Robertson
ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: A rescue dog smells the debris of a ruined building while search and rescue operations continue on  February 9, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries.  (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: A framed portrait remains on a wall of a collapsed building on February 9, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries.  (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Volunteers and rescue teams work for on a ruined building on February 10, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries.  (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Volunteers and rescue teams work for on a ruined building on February 10, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries.  (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Volunteers and rescue teams work for on a ruined building on February 10, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries.  (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: Fireman Erhan Sarac and other rescue team members celebrate each other just after a successful evacuation on February 9, 2023 in Elbistan, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Family members mourn during the funeral of the victim of the earthquake to the mass graves on February 10, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)
HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: People wait for news of their loved ones, believed to be trapped under collapsed building on  on February 09, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)
ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: A rescue volunteer walks around collapsed buildings on February 9, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries.  (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Volunteers and rescue teams work for on a ruined building on February 10, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries.  (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Policemen check a local man to prevent potential looting in front of ruined Elbistan Tax Office building on February 10, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries.  (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: Turkish and Mongolian rescue workers celebrate to survival of Hulya Kabakulak, 48-year-old survivor, at the site of a collapsed building after 90 hours on from the earthquake on  on February 09, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)
HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: People wait for news of their loved ones, believed to be trapped under collapsed building on  on February 09, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)
HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Family members mourn during the funeral of a victim of the earthquake at mass graves on February 10, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Residents sift through the rubble of a collapsed building, looking for victims and survivors, following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
An injured man is helped by a resident to slide out of the rubble of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Residents walk along a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Residents carry an injured child from the rubble of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighboring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
A resident walks along a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Residents sift through the rubble of a collapsed building, looking for victims and survivors, following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
A resident stands in front of  a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Residents stand in front of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)