Hurricane Helene brought unprecedented challenges to Newport, Tennessee, with water levels rising to historic highs and flooding downtown and various businesses. One such business was the Resurrection Boxing Club, founded by Justin Dube in 2013.

"Discovering the Unwavering Spirit of a Boxing Club in the Face of Disaster"

The Impact of Hurricane Helene

Rain fell on Thursday night, September 26, as the rivers began to rise. Everyone stayed home on Friday as the hurricane raged. Over the weekend, club members and neighbors from Newport came together to clean out the gym. Despite having several feet of water and a thick layer of mud, the club held regular practices the next week.

Justin Dube, who lived in an apartment above the gym, described the scene as "like a bomb hit." Everything had two inches of mud, windows were knocked out, and everything was shattered. But the club didn't let up and continued to train.

Local construction firm Posey Construction supplied power washing hoses to help clean the mud. Dube, a mason, along with others, rebuilt the gym's front entrance with bricks and new windows and replaced the equipment. The repairs are estimated to have cost about $40,000 so far.

The Journey of the Resurrection Boxing Club

Dube started the club while repairing his own life. He was training for a fight in the basement of Newport's First Baptist Church when a few people joined him. More joined when he trained in the basement of the Church of God. He bought the current location in 2017, which used to be a congested place full of debris.

The coaches emphasized that the gym remained open because their mission is to help people better themselves. "You can't lie in this. You can't lie and try to get in that ring and say you're something you're not," said Dube.

Roy Thomas, one of the club's coaches, agreed. "Just because I might do wrong; I don't want them to do wrong. That's the kind of person I am. If I see a kid do wrong, I'll say, 'Don't do that young man, that ain't no good. It's no good at all.' It'll cause you a bunch of problems in your later years."

The Future of Resurrection Boxing Club

Despite the setbacks caused by Hurricane Helene, the Resurrection Boxing Club is determined to move forward. The coaches and members are working hard to restore the gym and continue their mission of helping neighbors become champions in and out of the ring.

With their unwavering spirit and determination, the Resurrection Boxing Club is a shining example of resilience in the face of adversity.