Rolling for a Reason: Making a Difference with Tap Cancer Out
The most impactful part of beginning a sport like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is becoming a part of an enormous community of passionate, obsessive, devoted people. When I became involved with Tap Cancer Out, I learned how this community can be a force for good in the lives of so many. Tap Cancer Out exemplifies how a bunch of athletes who love strangling each other can create positive change by focusing our energy into supporting the fight against cancer.
Compete
Tap Cancer Out is most recognized by its BJJ Open Tournaments hosted in locations across the USA. These events welcome competitors in the gi under the IBJJF ruleset, from the white belt to black belt level.
Each competitor registers and creates their own fundraising page–not only will you compete on the mats, but you’ll compete to raise the most funds to benefit Tap Cancer Out’s beneficiaries. The best part? Raise $250 or more on your fundraising page & your tournament registration is totally free. This makes TCO tournaments the single best competition for any grappler on a budget!
As you fundraise past that $250 mark, you’ll earn additional perks to sweeten the deal. You can get exclusive tees, rashguards, gear bags, and premium gis as you promote the cause among your family, friends, and teammates. The top tournament fundraiser & top fundraising team will be recognized with a special award–so you’ll want to get your whole academy to rally together!
In 2019, Tap Cancer Out debuted the Sub-Only Showcase–an on-stage superfight card featuring gi & no-gi competitors from the blue belt to black belt level. This is the perfect answer for the intense competitor looking to break into the semi-pro or professional grappling scene. You’ll fill out a fighter application to be matched up–with extra priority given to TCO’s biggest fundraisers. Since spectators aren’t able to attend events at this time, these fights will be live-streamed with high-quality footage and commentary so all your supporters can watch you strut your stuff back home. I can say with full confidence that my experience participating in the Massachusetts Sub-Only Showcase in 2020 (read my blog post for details!) was by far my favorite competition to date.
Registration is open for all 2021 Tournament & Sub-Only Showcase dates–you can get started today!
Volunteer
It takes a team to put on a successful tournament–from the person weighing you in at the scales in the morning to the person rolling up the very last mat at the end of the day. Volunteers not only get to help make these events run smoothly & experience the pride of giving their time–they get to compete free of charge!
Fill out the volunteer form to see how you can chip in at an event this year. Whether you’re a grappler or a grappling fanatic, you’ll get to view a full day of exciting matches, all for a noble cause.
Grapple
The first-ever Global Grappling Day took place on December 12, 2020–and raised over $250,000. Maybe competing isn’t right for you, or you won’t be able to attend any of Tap Cancer Out’s scheduled events. The great news is that Global Grappling Day is for everyone, and takes place everywhere.
Here’s how it works: you’ll pick one partner to grapple with for one hour. Then, you set up a fundraising page to promote to all your friends & family. On Global Grappling Day, December 12, you & your partner roll for 60 minutes straight!
Sound crazy? Don’t stress–there are infinite creative ways to participate in Global Grappling Day. You and your partner may want to go all-out with flashy submissions. Or maybe some flow rolls with plenty of breaks is your pace. No matter your skill level, the idea is to challenge yourself and celebrate the fight against cancer.
There are tons of clever ideas fundraisers have used to raise money for Global Grappling Day. Livestream to your friends to draw extra attention to your page, have donors choose songs for your rolling playlist… grapplers everywhere are coming up with amazing ideas to bring enthusiasm to this incredible movement. Bonus: just like competitors, Global Grappling Day fundraisers can earn special perks like patches & gear.
Support
Every single initiative by Tap Cancer Out relies on the support of many generous donors. The #1 way you can support your friend, teammate, or family member who is participating in Tap Cancer Out is to donate to their fundraising page! Any amount you contribute will get them closer to their fundraising goal–and contribute to Tap Cancer Out’s mission to fund cancer research grants, medical fellowships, and ongoing support to those battling cancer. All donations are tax-deductible and TCO’s annual reports give full transparency behind the impact of your charitable donation.
You can also donate anytime via the Tap Cancer Out website or Facebook page (fees are waived on Facebook, meaning the charity isn’t charged for payment processing!).
Lastly, you can purchase Tap Cancer Out merch on the online store & the proceeds will go toward Tap Cancer Out’s beneficiaries. My personal favorite is my Impact Backpack–this convertible gear bag expands to hold your sweaty gi, is roomy enough for a change of clothing, water bottles, snacks, towels, shower supplies & more. It’s the ultimate competition pack or travel duffel.
Use code AMB_KATIE_FRIENDS for 10% off your order of TCO swag!
Have you participated in a Tap Cancer Out event yet? How do you plan on getting involved this year?
