On Friday, Feb. 25, mental health nonprofit The Fight Against Suicide (TFAS) will host its second annual boxing match event in Auburn, bringing the community together to confront one of the most pressing mental health challenges facing young adults today. Through the event, TFAS works to raise awareness of suicide and suicidal ideation among individuals ages 18 to 25 through prevention-focused education and open dialogue.
“We exist to really build sustained on-campus suicide prevention systems that last just beyond a moment or conversation,” said Reilly Spitzer, Auburn team lead and corporate team coordinator.
Spitzer said the organization focuses on maintaining a proactive approach rather than responding only after a crisis occurs. Its efforts center on prevention through consistent, evidence-based training and continuous access to care. The organization also emphasizes the importance of sustaining a year-round, on-campus suicide prevention system to ensure intervention and connection are readily available whenever and wherever they are needed.
The Story of TFAS
TFAS was founded in 2021 in memory of University of Georgia student Sams Asbury, who was known for his leadership and compassion for others. His story resonated deeply, prompting dialogue and support around suicide.
“They started getting groups of guys together to talk about suicide and how to talk about it fruitfully,” Spitzer said.
She said the group then decided to host a boxing match to honor their lives, launching what would become TFAS.
What began as a single-campus initiative has since grown into a national, student-driven effort supported by mentors, families, and community partners working to advance suicide prevention. Head of Boxing Operations Ben Marks, who was familiar with the UGA community and its efforts through TFAS, reached out to help bring the event to Auburn.
“I saw how much it brought that kind of age range together with something so unique as a boxing match,” Marks said. “So I reached out to the founder of the organization, David Emonson, and pitched the idea of bringing it to Auburn.”
TFAS’s main event is a fully ticketed “Tough Man” event designed to draw students into meaningful conversation and community connection, with 100% of the proceeds supporting local suicide prevention efforts.
TFAS has now come to Auburn University, the third campus to bring the event to its students.
The Process
Preparation for the event begins nearly a year in advance, requiring extensive coordination and long-term planning. Marks explained that planning often resumes shortly after the previous main event concludes, with organizers reconnecting in the summer to rebuild leadership and recruit. Weekly meetings then guide the process, allowing the team to outline goals, assign responsibilities, and begin preparing for the year ahead.
Fundraising efforts typically begin about six months before the competition. Organizers reach out to potential sponsors during this period to share the organization’s mission and generate support, particularly from businesses across the Southeast interested in donating and partnering with the cause.
Much of the six-to eight-month preparation window is also devoted to recruiting boxers. The team visits Auburn fraternities and opens participation to the public, welcoming individuals who are interested or have been personally affected by suicide.
Paxton Mobley, a junior at Auburn University and participant in this month’s main event, described the training process for fighters.
“TFAS provides six weeks of training for all of the fighters at a gym in Auburn called Kagefit. We’re able to go to as many boxing classes as we’d like each week," Mobley said. "Tuesday nights are our sparring nights, and that’s when your cardio, preparation and skills really get put to the test.”
Fight Week
TFAS is a structured, multi-day initiative that combines suicide prevention training, peer connection, and fundraising for direct mental health support. Each fight week includes Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide training, campus-wide connection and wellness events, and supplemental mental health programming. Fight Week culminates in the main event, which this year will be held at the Bottling Plant in Opelika. Tickets for the “Tough Man” event sold out in just three minutes. Weigh-ins are scheduled for Thursday, with the fight taking place on Friday.
The Impact
The emotional impact of TFAS extends far beyond the main event. Mobley reflected on his experience preparing for the fight and the deeper meaning behind his involvement. “It’s easy to get caught up in the training and the fighting of this event, but it really does mean so much more than that. It’s important to remember what this cause is all about. I’ve had people close to me affected by suicide, so being able to be a small part of bringing awareness to suicide prevention is a huge privilege.”
He also spoke about the perspective and fulfillment he gained through participating in the event. “But when you give it your all, you grow. You gain confidence. And there’s a real joy that comes from knowing you didn’t waste what you were given. Boxing reminds me that the life God calls us to isn’t easy, but it is full. And there’s true joy in giving Him and everything you do your absolute best.”
Spitzer shared the insight she’s gained working as a team member. “There have been so many powerful testimonies and stories that have transformed my heart and given me an awareness that everybody has something going on. Suicide is one of the most devastating and heartbreaking things to try to wrap your mind around.” She said. “I think it’s sparked so many conversations and questions like, ‘How can I get involved in this?’ It’s truly begun to feel like a family.”
“One of the biggest things that TFAS preaches is that ‘it’s okay not to be okay,’" Marks said. "A lot of young men growing up are taught to bottle up their emotions and ‘show no weakness.’”
TFAS encourages people to reach out if they are struggling, offering plenty of ways to help.
“There is a light at the end of the path,” Marks further encouraged.
Students and members involved help create the change they want to see, challenging long-standing stigmas and fostering a sense of community where vulnerable yet prevalent issues like mental health are not only discussed, but met with understanding and support.
Get Involved
Students can stay connected by following @tfasauburn on Instagram, where they share updates, resources and opportunities for students seeking help or wanting to make a difference. The events leading up to fight week are available to anybody to sign up through either the Instagram or Auburn tab on the official TFAS website.
Spitzer shared the emotional weight behind the TFAS team’s mission. “There’s a lot of weight around the mission and a lot of heart behind what we’re doing. I think everyone on the intern team, in particular, has a personal reason for being involved, and it’s been really special to use all of those stories and experiences of hurt to create a sense of purpose.”
A New Chapter
The TFAS team is excited to announce that following the fight, a non-university-affiliated chapter under TFAS will be established, offering continuous access to resources and ongoing opportunities for involvement. “Building this chapter will allow us to put on events throughout the year to keep the talks going about suicide awareness all year round,” Marks said.
TFAS centers its mission around hope, rallying powerful peer-led prevention in the fight against suicide and reaching those who fall through the gaps in the current system. As of today, 15,000 students have been reached across eight universities, $460,000 has been directed to suicide-prevention efforts, and over 300 students have been trained and mentored through TFAS leadership and internship programs. Currently, more than 60 universities are on the TFAS waitlist, ready to bring this deeply meaningful organization to their campus and continue the conversation around suicide awareness year-round.
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