Ottawa's Wrestling Community Picks up the Cancer Fight

It may sound a little odd, but on Friday, August 17^th, Tudor Hall will have a bevy of professional wrestlers and scores of raucous fans all fighting in the name of one ‘homeless guy’.  Phrank Morin, known to wrestling fans as Stinky the Homeless Guy, was beloved by fans and his friends in the wrestling world.  He would walk to the ring in torn up t-shirts with a taped up shoe and his trademark hat all to the tune of ‘Maybe Tomorrow’, the theme of the Littlest Hobo.  Over several years, his often-touted smile and unique humour was a fixture in Ottawa and Quebec as well as the Northeast United States, where he fought in Lego Weapons Matches and became a champion after finding a title belt while digging in the trash. 

It was with little warning that Phrank’s career was cut short when in December of 2010 it was discovered he had cancer.  The next month during his first cycle of chemotherapy it was found that the cancer was terminal.  He was told he had one year to live.

One of his good friends in the wrestling business was Ottawa C*4 Promoter Mark Pollesel, who after hearing the news, wrote the Canadian Cancer Society about putting on an event for Phrank.   Over the next several months, Mark and his crew held countless fundraisers at his own shows.  They sold cupcakes and t-shirts, they shaved heads; whatever they could do to put the show together, they did it. 

“Basically everybody who had known Phrank from promoters to wrestlers to fans all stepped up and helped us raise the money.  It's our little community, indy pro wrestling, coming together and trying to make a difference.”

As they continued to raise money for the big event, Phrank’s sickness was growing as well.  Soon, one year became only three months.  On April 1^st, 2011, Phrank passed away.  It was a huge blow to all those who had been hoping to put the event together and have Phrank attend.  The decision was made to go ahead with the show, and put it on in his memory instead.  

The very first Fighting Back saw nearly 400 people come to Tudor Hall, among them Phrank’s mother, sister and girlfriend.  It was a night filled with great emotion and tremendous success as well.  The ‘little community’ raised over 10,000 dollars for the Canadian Cancer Society.  At the end of the night, everyone left with a smile on their face and quite a few wiping away tears.

This year, Mark is hoping for even more success.  Former Wrestlemania headliner Bobby Lashley will appear, Harry Smith, a member of Canada’s own famous Hart Family, and Jay Lethal of TNA Wrestling.

“If you’re a wrestling fan, you'll be in for a treat.  You'll see guys who you've seen on TV like Lashley and Smith, working without the limitations of commercial breaks and TV time.  If you're not a wrestling fan, you can show up, donate $20 straight to the Canadian Cancer Society with a General Admission Ticket purchase, lower your inhibitions, and just have fun for a couple of hours.”

Emotions will undoubtedly be running high as his fellow wrestlers take to the ring on August 17^th to put on a show for their fallen friend.  The event isn’t about someone who died though, but about celebrating the person this community loved and his unwavering spirit.

“Much like Phrank and his attitude all the way through his sickness, this is going to be a positive night.”

Fighting Back 2:  Wrestling With Cancer will be held at Tudor Hall (3750 North Bowesville Road in Ottawa).  Tickets can be purchased at VERTIGO Records (193 Rideau St. in Ottawa).  All money from ticket sales will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society in memory of Phrank Morin.