07/05/2022
To the friends and supporters of The Melrose Athletic Club, Inc (MAC) and Champ’s Gym. I never thought it would be necessary to write this type of letter, but it has become clear that Champ’s Gym and MAC are under attack with misleading and false statements that have be circulating from someone that our organization has helped for several years. Due to this misinformation with city officials, and the media, the Board of Directors of the Melrose Athletic Club, Inc held an emergency meeting and voted unanimously to terminate our relationship with Boxing & Brawling and Boxfit. Melrose Athletic Club, Inc which is recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 non-profit has provided boxing training over the past six years at 1015 Jamison Ave SE Roanoke Virginia and has always been and still is actively training at this facility. Melrose Athletic Club has paid 100% of the rent, electric, water, gas, and other maintenance and despite the confusion, allowed Boxing & Brawling to run programs around the regular schedule of Champ’s Gym while receiving no financial contribution from Boxing & Brawling for the use of our facility. Boxing & Brawling is in no way officially associated with The Melrose Athletic Club, Inc or Champ’s Gym which is now celebrating 50 years of serving the Roanoke Valley. This message was only written to address additional misinformation circulating in the form of an online petition stating that boxing was ending at 1015 Jamison Avenue SE, Roanoke Virginia because of “the risks of safety and health” and “Community concerns” which are false and misleading statement. There are no safety or health concerns and any community concerns if any are driven by false information. Champ’s Gym is going as strong as ever and continues to provide training in the Sweet Science of Boxing to both youth and adults. The Melrose Athletic Club, Inc is a permanent member of USA Boxing and presently a 100% volunteer organization and none of our coaches or volunteers are paid for giving back to the community.
Victor Banks
President and Director