Dustin Poirier is a seriously tough dude. The lightweight UFC fighter is 24-5 in his MMA career, and next month, he’ll once again put his skills to the test as he battles it out with Max Holloway for the 155-lb interim title at UFC 236.
Poirier’s main event match won’t just be for the gold and glory, though. He’ll be auctioning off his fight gear to raise money for a playground that’s accessible for children with disabilities. The playground will be built at an elementary school in Lafayette, Louisiana, which is Poirier’s hometown.
In an interview with MMA Junkie, Poirier says that the inspiration for the project came from a child named Aaron Hill. Aaron had a brain disease called Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), which leads to blindness and deafness, seizures, loss of muscle control, and progressive dementia. In just two to five years, the disease usually causes permanent disability or death. Poirier says that Aaron’s dream was to have a playground at school that he and his friends could play on even if they relied on a wheelchair for mobility.
Tragically, Aaron passed away at seven years old before his greatest wish came true, but Poirier intends to ensure that the playground is built in Aaron’s honor. Through the fight gear auction and donations to his nonprofit, The Good Fight Foundation, he hopes to raise the money needed to build a playground where all kids can just be kids, regardless of their disabilities.
This isn’t Poirier’s first effort to help children, either. Last July, he auctioned off his fight gear to pay for 500 backpacks filled with school supplies for children at the middle school he attended. The Good Fight has also helped out at a Thanksgiving food drive and a women’s shelter in Acadiana, LA.
Check out Poirier’s interview below, and visit The Good Fight to learn more about the organization and donate to the cause:
