Who am I, and how did I get here?

Hello, and welcome to Fight for Life: The Mario Abraham Torres Jr. Foundation. If you are reading this, thank you! Your presence here is the beginning of something meaningful, and I am deeply grateful to share our story with you.

My name is Brooke, and this foundation was born from the life, heart, and legacy of my son Mario (here at home and with family he went by Abraham - so, I will use the name Abraham). Abraham was a 16-year-old boxer whose determination, discipline, and spirit inspired everyone around him. This is the story of how I got here, why this foundation exists, and where I hope we can go together.

HOW I GOT HERE

On September 28, 2023, my world changed forever. It was on this day that Abraham sustained a traumatic brain injury while sparring in the boxing ring. This injury ultimately took his life on October 2, 2023. Losing him was the kind of pain no parent should ever have to face. But even in the midst of that heartbreak, something extraordinary happened... Abraham saved lives. Through his organ donation, he became a hero, giving others a chance to live because of his strength, his generosity, and his final act of courage.

As a mother, I knew I had to honor his life in a way that reflected who he was: dedicated, brave, passionate about boxing, and full of heart. I also knew that the injury that took his life was preventable and had we known what the signs were that something was wrong prior to him sparring that day in September, he would still be here today. I knew that I had to do something so that other young fighters would not have to sacrifice their lives and no other parent would have to bury their child because of the lack of knowledge. That is how the Fight for LIfe Foundation came to be.

WHAT THIS FOUNDATION REPRESENTS

This foundation is Abraham's legacy carried forward. It is a call to action. It is a commitment to protect and uplift the very community he loved... the boxing world.

The Fight for Life Foundation is dedicated to promoting education, awareness, and improved safety standards within combat sports, especially for youth athletes. Our mission is to support medical screening, concussion awareness, monitoring protocols, and life-saving educational resources to help prevent tragedies like the one that took Abraham. We want to ensure that fighters of all ages, coaches, parents and gyms have access to the knowledge and tools needed to keep athletes safe, so that passion for the sport never costs a life again.

MARIO ABRAHAM TORRES JR.'S LEGACY

Abraham was exceptional, not just because of his talent and skill as a boxer, but because of the person he was. He trained hard, he loved fiercely, and he dreamed big. He was dedicated to any and everything that he put his mind to. His health was his number one! He would wake up early to run and loved to workout and train. He was destined for greatness and in the end, he gave the greatest gift anyone can give... the gift of life. He donated his heart, lungs, liver, both kidneys and gave inspiration to many others to register to be organ donors as well. His story is powerful, but it should also be a lesson. Not every risk is visible. Not every injury looks dangerous. Not every athlete know the signs their body is giving them. And not every gym or team has access to critical medical information that could save a life. Through Abraham's legacy, we aim to change that!

WHERE I WANT THIS TO GO

My vision for the Fight for Life Foundation is to build a safer future for young athletes across the county. This means:

• Expanding access to medical screenings

• Supporting concussion and brain injury education

• Providing resources to gyms, coaches and families

• Advocating for stronger safety protocols in youth boxing

• Honoring organ donation and promoting awareness around it

• Continuing to share Abraham's story to inspire and protect others

This blog will be a space where I share updates, educational content, reflections, and the ongoing journey of this foundation as it grows in Mario Abraham's name.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for honoring my son with your time and your heart. And thank you for believing in the mission to protect these athletes and save lives while preserving the heart of the sport!

WELCOME to Fight for Life: The Mario Abraham Torres Jr. Foundation. Where Abraham's spirit continues to fight... for safety, for awareness, and for life. Because every fighter deserves a tomorrow.

With love,

Brooke B. - Founder/President... but first and foremost... Abraham's Proud Mom!!!