CHUVALO'S FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS PULLS NO PUNCHES

Boxing legend George Chuvalo pulled no punches when delivering his
Fight Against Drugs in Kenora Monday.

And those who heard it, were blown away by his blunt, powerful
message.

"What happened to my family shouldn't happen to anybody else's," he
told both local Rotarians and later students at St. Thomas Aquinas
Monday.

In his direct testimonial, Chuvalo gave factual account of how his
sons' lives descended into the hell of overdoses, petty crime and
incarceration. He remembered the exact dates, times and locations for
each of the three sons' deaths he lost to heroin addiction.

"On Oct. 31, 1993, Georgie died in a seedy hotel with a needle in his
arm, a day after he got out of prison," he said.

He also recalled how his wife, overcome by the loss of their second
son, took an overdose of pills and laid down on her late son's bed.

While an opening video showed footage of Chuvalo taking punishment in
the ring, it couldn't have prepared him for the emotional pain that
followed. He spent days and nights chasing his sons around downtown
Toronto, in an attempt to keep them alive.

He remembers seeing one son in a downtown bar, when he was so
desperate for a hit, that he defecated in his pants at the sight of
heroin.

Chuvalo remembered how his son had gone straight to the washroom and
shot the drug into his veins, without pausing to clean himself up.

"Every time I tell that story, I get sick to my stomach," he said,
clearly disgusted by the image.

He also shared with students how his son, Steven, was found dead in
his sister's home.

The drug was so strong that it only took seven seconds to take the
young man's life, Chuvalo said.

"If my sons could've had a glimpse of the future, they never would've
tried it," he said, reinforcing the message of prevention.

The former champion remembered pleading with the director of a rehab
centre, who had asked him to bring his son back in a couple of months
when he was clean. "If I could get my son clean, I wouldn't need
rehab," he told the director.

He then took aim at the glamorized Hollywood portrayal of the drug
culture.

While referring specifically to the movie Pulp Fiction, he said the
characterization of John Travolta as a heroin addict was
irresponsible.

"Hollywood sends you a false message. It tells you that you can do
drugs and get away with it. Hollywood tells you that you can do drugs
and lead a normal life. Nothing could be further from the truth," he
said.

In conclusion, Chuvalo encouraged students to fill their hearts with
love from family and friends, so that they feel strong, important and
appreciated.

While distracted students could be seen stretching towards the end of
the hard-hitting presentation, which lasted more than an hour,
students stood and cheered him at the end.

"I didn't know that heroin could kill you in seven seconds," said
Grade 8 student Leighton Skomoroh.

Student president Danielle Morrison stopped by to give the champ a big
hug at the end.

"It's hard to imagine stuff like that," she said, noting the need for
further workshops and information sessions.

"It's good to see he's going 12 rounds for drug prevention," said
principal Mark Duggan, referring to Chuvalo's 12-round title bout
against Muhammed Ali. In 97 fights, Chuvalo was never knocked out or
knocked down.

Six years after receiving the Order of Canada for his work with youth,
his fight continues.

Today, he visits the Agape Table for a talk with streetpeople, before
speaking at a lunch for community service workers at noon.