Central Coast local Jackson Lonie, best known as a participant from Married at First Sight 2022, presented a $1,900 cheque to Coast Shelter on November 23.
Lonie not only stepped into the ring for a much-publicised boxing match in Melbourne last month to defeat fellow MAFS alumni Sam Carraro, bur chose Coast Shelter as his charity of choice to receive his winnings.
The fight against homelessness and domestic violence on the NSW Central Coast is dear to his heart.
Lonie has been very open in talking about his own family experience with domestic violence and wanted to give back to the community and raise awareness for the plight of those in need.
“I wanted to give that money to a good cause and I thought, what better cause than something that I’ve been through and something that really resonates with me,” he said.
He acknowledged the irony of raising funds to help combat domestic violence through a boxing match.
Coast Shelter, focussing on providing services and support programs for the homeless, as well as those dealing with domestic and family violence, aims to break the cycle of poverty and intergenerational despair and disadvantage.
Marketing Communications Manager Krissy Stepleton expressed the charity’s thanks to Lonie and the RoJo Consulting team.
“As the leading homelessness and domestic violence service on the Central Coast, without people like Jackson raising awareness and fundraising on our behalf, we would not be able to do what we do,” she said.
The cheque presentation was held at G-Six Boxing, the Central Coast owned and operated gym, which was also a donation sponsor.
Lonie said he was grateful for the difference even a small amount can make to the charity.
“Any impact I can make, makes me happy,” he said.
Source:
Media release, Nov 23
Coast Shelter