PLEASE READ UNTIL THE END. THANK YOU.

My life changed twice — first in a car crash, then in an exam room.

In 2019, I was in a devastating car accident that sent me to the hospital with multiple injuries. During my recovery, doctors pushed for a scan — and that scan uncovered something far more dangerous: Stage 3 Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma (NLPHL), a rare and complex form of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Before that moment, my life felt like it was cruising. I had built a career, and I was chasing a dream — even restoring a 1970 Chevelle SS I’d always wanted. Then everything took a sharp detour.

The fight I didn’t choose became the fight that changed me.

After seeking guidance from multiple doctors, I ultimately returned to New York City for treatment and went through six rounds of chemotherapy — during the height of COVID, when the world felt isolated and the process felt even lonelier. My body hurt, everything hurt… I felt as broken as could be.

But by the end of 2020, I reached remission. And strangely, the hardest season of my life also gave me a new perspective: gratitude — even for the accident — because it likely led to the discovery that saved my life.

I developed a system that helped me get through the toughest times. I call them my “4Fs”: faith, fight, family, and friends. These are the pillars I took on that helped me survive and rebuild.

Why boxing? Because I get to choose the fight.

Cancer is a fight you never volunteer for. Boxing is different. Boxing is a way to take everything cancer tried to take from me, whether it's my confidence, my body, my certainty, and turn it into purpose.

That’s why I applied to Haymakers for Hope, an event that turns first-time fighters into fundraisers for cancer research, care, awareness, and survivorship. In 2023, I stepped into the ring for the first time — and together we raised $63,004.24.

In 2023, I had three goals:

1. Prove to myself I wasn’t broken after my injuries and chemo

2. Raise over $50K for cancer causes and charities

3. Inspire current patients and survivors to keep pushing through and fight on

And we did it!

Winning the fight wasn’t in the calculus the first time. The bigger win was proving I could stand back up physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and in turn, bring other people with me.

Now I’m back for Part 2 - and this time, I’m raising the bar. I will be fighting this Fall in Oct / Nov...STAY TUNED!

I’m coming back with two goals:

1. Win my fight.

2. Raise double what we raised last time by 10/23/26 - $120,000+ - for the charities and communities I’m passionate about.

This isn’t just a boxing match. It’s a promise to use my second chance in life for something bigger than me.

The ask

If my story resonates with you, I’m asking you to help me do something huge: help me raise $120,000+ so more patients get a real chance, more families get support, and more kids get hope and healing.

Whether it’s $10 or $1,000 — thank you for being part of this fight.

And if you can’t donate, sharing this fundraiser across your socials helps more than you know.

--------------------------------------------------

Where your donation goes and why it matters to me:

During my accident recovery and cancer journey, I learned that survival isn’t a solo act. I’ve come to live by what I call my 4Fs: Faith. Fight. Friends. Family. These pillars carried me through the hardest days and now guide how I give back.

FAITH

Faith is my foundation, especially the communities that keep me grounded spiritually and remind me that strength is bigger than self.

• St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church - Donate directly to Saint Sarkis here

• Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs - Donate directly to Holy Martyrs here

Personal Take:

Faith has been my anchor through recovery, treatment, and rebuilding. St. Sarkis & Holy Martyrs are part of the community that keeps me grounded, gives me a place to return to spiritually, and reinforces the best kind of strength is strength that’s shared. This isn’t new for me either — I’ve previously supported St. Sarkis & Holy Martyrs through giving as part of my ongoing commitment to the communities that raised me.

FIGHT

Fight is about action by supporting the institutions and research that give people a real chance at beating cancer.

• Weill Cornell Medicine – Donate directly to Weill Cornell here

• Expect Miracles Foundation (EMF) – Donate directly to EMF here

Personal Take:

Weill Cornell Medicine – This is where I received my treatments. They are advancing lifesaving care and research, and I want to help them expand that impact for more people.

Expect Miracles Foundation – EMF rallies communities (including the financial services world and beyond) to invest in lifesaving cancer research while also supporting people impacted by cancer. I have supported this charity over the years and saw firsthand the impact that they are making in the fight against cancer.

FRIENDS

Friends represent the people and communities that lift you up, especially in moments when life feels impossible.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC (BBBSNYC) – Donate directly to BBBSNYC here

• Hope & Heroes – Donate directly to H&H here

Personal Take:

BBBSNYC – I’m a Big Brother, and I’ve seen firsthand how powerful mentorship can be in changing a young person’s trajectory.

Hope & Heroes – H&H is a tri-state charity that funds lifesaving work in childhood cancer and blood disorders, supporting leading pediatric cancer centers through research, clinical care, and programs that support children and families throughout treatment. I’m deeply connected to Hope & Heroes because in 2023 I stepped into the ring with Haymakers for Hope to raise money and awareness, and Hope & Heroes became one of the core charities I fought for. They wrote an article about my journey (Link: The Road to Hope and Healing) and why I chose to turn my comeback into a mission to help others. To me, Hope & Heroes represents showing up for people who are fighting battles they didn’t choose, especially kids and families.

FAMILY

Family is legacy – Supporting Armenian communities and healing pathways that matter deeply to me.

• Therapists for Armenia (TFA)* – Donate directly to TFA here

• AGBU & Camp Nairi – Donate directly to AGBU's Camp Nairi here

Personal Take:

Therapists for Armenia – During my accident recovery & cancer journey, I needed a wide range of therapies – including occupational and physical therapy – to rebuild and function again. That experience made something crystal clear: therapy isn’t “extra” – It is life-changing. TFA’s mission is to advance occupational, physical, and speech therapy, promote inclusion for people with disabilities, and support well-being across Armenian communities through education, collaboration, advocacy, and more.

AGBU’s Camp Nairi – AGBU is an organization I’ve been involved with since I was a teenager. Camp Nairi is especially close to my heart because while I was fighting cancer in 2020, the 44-day war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Artsakh left families and children carrying trauma – and later, in 2023, over 120,000 Armenians were forced from their ancestral homes after another attack. Camp Nairi is designed as a haven for traumatized youth, offering camp experiences paired with therapeutic support from licensed professionals, with expanded weekend retreats that include access to mental health professionals and activities like art and music therapy. I was able to beat my battle that year. Now I want to help families – especially women and children – fight for something as basic as quality of life.

PLEASE READ: Each of the following causes will get 12.5% of the total money raised. The preferred method of donation is through GoFundMe, but If you choose to donate directly to the below causes using the supplied links, please use “Aram Babikian’s 2026 Boxing Campaign” as the reason you are giving so we can keep track of the total raised through this campaign and direct donations. I will post the checks or transfers on this page after my boxing event. All proceeds will be donated and I will not receive any personal monetary benefit.

The Fight location will likely be in Queens, NY but details will be updated ~1 month before the fight.

*Additional Disclosure: My sister is on the Board of Trustees for Therapists for Armenia, and it’s important for me to disclose that. Neither she, nor I receive any personal monetary benefit from any donation.