They will be kicking and punching it out for charity this Saturday night as Showdown in the Downtown returns for the 17th time in London, Ont. “This year on September 26th, we’re at RBC Place and we are having a mixed martial arts tournament with 12 bouts,” said Dr. Faisal Rehman, a kidney specialist and one of the organizers of the event who also participates in the ring. “We have seven amazing charities that are benefitting from our event this year.” The main beneficiary is kidney research. The money raised goes to help people like Cole Heessels, who lost an arm and a leg as a child linked to kidney failure. “My disease causes blood clots all over the body and it caused my amputations and kidney failure,” said Heessels. “Events like Showdown in the Downtown helps with research money.” Samantha Melnick suffers from a different ailment, but like Cole, she too is prone to blood clotting due to kidney problems. The mother of three started feeling ill about nine months ago, saying, “Every day my symptoms began to get a little bit worse.” She added, “In a matter of days it went from celebrating with my family and friends on New Years Day to lying in a hospital bed fighting for my life. It was scary.” “Both Cole and Samantha have rare conditions that cause blood clots everywhere and those blood clots can affect the brain and cause strokes and kidney failure along with nerve damage and amputations,” said Rehman. Since 2009, Showdown in the Downtown has been successful in raising more than $3 million for local charities. “The money benefits research that not only benefits people in London and across Canada but also everyone around the world,” said Rehman.
