Thursday, April 5 2018
During the coming months, we’ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Rumble in the Rockies in Denver on June 14th. They’ve committed to four months of fundraising and training in preparation to get in the ring and literally fight for a cure. Whether their mom is battling, their father has passed or their friend has put up a victory against the disease – they’ve all got a story to tell and they’ve all got a reason to fight. Below you’ll hear from Ben Queen, fighting out of the Blunt Force Training.
Where are you from?
Denver, CO
Where’d you go to college?
University of Notre Dame
Did you play any sports growing up?
I played competitive sports as early on as I can remember, starting with soccer when I was about 5 years old. Growing up, I played baseball, soccer, basketball, and football. As I got older my focus shifted to soccer, which I played year-round through high school. In college, I rowed crew for a year and played some intramural sports, but for the most part my athletic career was over. However, I've never lost the craving for challenging myself and for tough competition.
What do you do for work?
I'm a CPA in Denver, and I work for a real estate private equity firm in fund accounting and investor relations.
Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting?
Boxing is something that has always impressed me; that someone could withstand such a beating, to absorb that much damage and not just stay standing, but to come back swinging and win the fight. I've never been in a fight, but seeing if I could take a hit, stay standing, and hit back has always been something that I've wondered, and this seemed like a fantastic opportunity to test my own limits and capabilities.
Why on earth did you sign up to fight??
The first reason was that it sounded like a very interesting and unique way to fundraise money for a cause that I care about. After that, it appealed to me as a great opportunity to get in shape with a larger motivation than just doing it for myself, and as I mentioned before, it also seemed to be a unique opportunity to really test myself, to challenge my own limits, and to discover and develop my capabilities.
You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure - where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you?
The most important and personal way that cancer has affected my life was when my grandmother, Nana, died during her second bout with cancer when I was seven years old. That had a significant impact on my childhood, and remains one of the most vivid memories that I had from when I was that young.
What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? (beer, cheeseburgers, time spent watching TV?)
I've decided to give up alcohol while I'm training, which is challenging on nearly a daily basis, whether it not having a beer after work to unwind, to the social aspect of going to a happy hour after work or checking out a new beer at the local brewery; but it is also a daily reminder of my focus on training and the motivation for giving it up in the first place.
When you’re not throwing punches and training -- what other hobbies/interests do you have?
My number one hobby has always been reading. I’ve been an avid reader since I was very young, and has been a life-long passion of mine. I also enjoy playing chess, soccer, volleyball, and softball (really most any team sport). Living in Denver provides a multitude of opportunities for getting up to the mountains for all sorts of outdoor activities, and I enjoy skiing, camping, hiking, etc. I’ve also recently started brewing beer with a friend, although I’m going to have to rely on his palate for evaluating our current batch!
Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night?
The people that will be most excited are probably my brothers (I have four younger brothers), but I think they’re just as excited (and hopefully a little bit more excited) to see me hit back and hopefully come out on top!
Be sure to check out his fundraising page here and wish him luck! Best of luck, Ben!