2012 Comeback Fighter of the Year Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs (Brooklyn, N.Y.) has inspired people across the country with his amazing recovery from cancer and return to the boxing ring. He now hopes to help others through the creation of his philanthropic foundation, Get in the Ring.
“I started the Get in the Ring foundation because I personally saw the hardships people go through when I was first diagnosed with cancer.” Jacobs said. “I didn’t have health insurance and it was very difficult financially. I decided then that if I ever made it, I would help people who are less fortunate, especially kids. Now that I’m in a position where I can help, I feel that it’s my duty.”
The foundation’s mission will be threefold, focusing on: cancer support, obesity and bullying. The three causes are close to Jacobs’ heart, and the boxer plans to raise funds and awareness for each of them as well as using his own life experiences to connect with and uplift others.
“It feels good to give back, especially to people who are going through the same things that I went through.” Jacobs said. “Cancer is hard on everyone, the whole family, and if I can help, I would love to do it.”
Growing up in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, Jacobs saw the impact that poor dietary habits can have on a community, and the difficulties low-income families face to put healthy food on the table. “I want to focus on obesity because it’s a huge issue in my neighborhood. People are poor; people are on welfare, and the food that they can afford is fattening,” he said. “You need money to buy nutritious food, but being that I’m from a poor area, people buy food that they can make last longer. In my area, people have diabetes; they are obese and their health and nutrition isn’t up to par. If I can help fix these problems and change the cycle, I would love to be a part of it.”
After having a run-in with a bully as a child, Jacobs found the sport of boxing, and he wants to help give young people the skills and confidence that he found in the sweet science in their own lives. ” I got in to boxing because I was on the verge of being bullied, but I stood up for myself,” Jacobs said. “Bullying is a major issue for our youth today. It’s making kids feel like they aren’t important. I have a four-year-old child of my own so if I can be a part of helping kids build self esteem and not be as affected by negative things people say to them, then I have done my part as a parent.”
A promising professional boxer, Jacobs won the fight of his life outside of the boxing ring last year. After being diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, Jacobs survived a nine-hour surgery to remove the tumor wrapped around his spine, chemotherapy and painful physical therapy. He defied doctors’ predictions that he would never be able to box again, and is 2-0 since returning to the ring. He will take the ring again on February 9 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on the undercard of Danny Garcia and Zab Judah.
For more information on the Get in the Ring foundation and to donate online, go to www.getinthering.net. The Get in the Ring Foundation is a non-profit organization, registered in the state of New York and all donations are tax-deductible.
