When Keith Verfelman heard of the opening of a boxing gym in his hometown Mokena, which was designed to support those in the recovery of intoxication through physical exercise, they knew that they had to join it.
“I have never seen before,” said Verfelman. “I like to do this in a regular workout gym because I don’t want to buff; I just want to be healthy. I was reading about it and I thought, ‘This is perfect for me because I have a history of drinking alcohol, and I recently went through some difficult situations and I was drinking a lot.’
The 57 -year -old Verfelman said that he visits BVL boxing solutions in 9620 Willow Lane, about four times a week. He said that coming to the gym is motivated to be motivated and excited, as exercise has helped to curb his crawings for alcohol.
“Just a large part of it is taking away from drinking that time,” he said. “If I am active, just looks more positive than sitting around.”
The owner Joe Leonard said that he created a gym for people like Verfelman, who are facing dark or drug addiction and looking for a way to channel their feelings and recover.
About a week after Verfelman’s arrival in BVL, Leonard said he could already see the positive impact working on his life.
“What are we doing,” said Leonard. “Once we tell that message about what this place is really, people are more ready to come.”
The idea for the BVL boxing solutions, nominated in honor of his elder brother Brian Victor Leonard Junior, began just three weeks before the death of Bryan, which his family believes that there was a fantaneel overdose in March 2024.
Joe decided to make the gym a reality.
Brian Leonard, an emotional boxer, was a patron and coach in the Mercy Home for boys and girls in Chicago, where he helped the young channel deprive his feelings and find treatment through exercise. The brothers imagined a uniform concept for the gym – a place where people have completed rehabilitation, but are still struggling with drug addiction, can come to work.
Leonard stated that the gym is open to anyone, regardless of addiction, who seek treatment through exercise, community or simply a good workout.
Leonard launched the gym with the support of his father, Brian Leonard Senior and his uncle, Glenn Leonard, who has taught boxing for more than 20 years.
Once Lyonard found a place in Mokeena within his budget, he said that the opening of the gym was just a matter of buying and installing the equipment and marketing the business with the help of a non -profit heroin epidemic relief organization. His sister, Mary Leonard designed the gym logo and created a marketing material including a brochure.
Within two weeks of opening on 15 January, Joe Lyonard said that the gym already has several members who exercise a few nights a week.
He said, “You don’t have to be in recovery, this is just a place to be a part of a good community for you.” “You don’t have to come here and fight, you don’t have to scare. We do a lot of things here because we want to show that we are here for everyone. ,
Membership includes complete access to gym and workout classes held on Tuesday and Thursday.
“Come here and try it, feel it. And just get healthy. This is our main thing, the first and foremost, ”said Leonard. “And then, if they need more time than that, we will give them another month. It is not that you are cut or anything, we are going to work with you. ,
Frankfort resident Mario Ferrera said that he visits the gym almost daily.
Ferreira said, “Boxing was part of growing up, as my whole family is boxing fan.” “I grew up watching the game, so just felt something that felt fun. It does not feel like a workout. It seems that you are playing almost a game. ,
A physical instructor, Gabby Rodrigue, is in the daily gym and charges a different fee for his services. Since the opening of the gym, Rodriguez said it had three regular customers.
Rodriguez, who has been boxing since the age of 7, said that she chose not only to work in BVL due to her love for the game, but also because she was associated with the mission of the gym. After leaving his sister only after going through rehabilitation, Rodriguez said that the mission of the gym is a “hit home” for her.
She said her sister “got stuck in the same way” because she had left the rehabilitation with nothing to keep her busy and centric. She now expects others to help in finding treatment and relief through exercise.
The gym is equipped with a treadmill, a professional-grade boxing ring and several punnting bags. Leonard said he plans to connect more features, including the suspended punching bags from the roof above the ring, which can be raised and reduced when used, as well as a motivational chalkboard where member photo post Can and write your goals and reasons to be there. ,
Lyonard’s long -time friend, John Somar, who helps a few nights a week, said the chalkboard “drive” members and why they are there, reminiscent of why they are there.
“Everyone who comes here, I think, is their personal inspiration,” Somar said.