A charitable body slam

Photo: David Wylie

Local wrestling and charities are becoming a powerhouse tag team.

Invasion Championship Wrestling announced Monday it’s already raised about $11,000 for four local charities ahead of a pair of Okanagan wrestling events this weekend. 

“This is before even one beer has been sold,” said Mike Chisholm, co-founder of Invasion.

“We put on this unconventional fundraiser to raise money for some great causes,” said Chisholm. “It’s a fun reason to make our community a better place.”

The wrestling organization on Monday donated $4,000 to the YMCA’s Strong Kids, $2,500 to the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club, $2,700 to the North Okanagan Neurological Association, and $1,500 to Mamas for Mamas.

Since 2013, Invasion has donated about $60,000 to local charities through its events.

Rhonda Zakala of the Kelowna YMCA said Invasion has donated about $20,000 to its programming since the wrestling organization’s inception.

“We’re talking about helping kids that need us,” she said. 

Zakala said she’s excited to cheer on one of the wrestlers who doubles as a YMCA employee – Collin Cutler, one half of the tag team Cougar Meat Kids.

This time around, Invasion has drawn former WWE champion and hall of fame inductee Mick Foley – perhaps best known as the pro-wrestler who played the persona Mankind. He’ll be tangling with local wrestling bad guy Mike Rizzo, who is also a co-founder of Invasion.

“He’s one of the most beloved wrestlers of all time,” said Chisholm.

Foley be coming all the way from New York for the match.

“Rizzo should be scared because Foley is coming all this way,” he added, half-jokingly.

Invasion Championship Wrestling will be in Kelowna Friday, at the Rutland Centennial Hall, and in Vernon on Saturday, at the Vernon Recreation Centre.

Tickets are available on the website.