Coach Manny's Fundraiser

Hi everyone,

I'm writing this for our dear friend, Manny Torres. Most in Oceanside and surrounding areas know him as "Coach Manny" since he's spent decades in the boxing and martial arts world and many years as a coach at the UFC Gym and now at the Oceanside Athletic Club.

We met Manny in 2015 at the UFC Gym in Carlsbad and he quickly became not only our boxing and kickboxing coach, but our family friend. He spends holidays, family bbqs and weekends with our family and we consider him a part of the family. He has also helped our son through some adolescent struggles and has been a mentor to each of our young adult kids.

Manny is a hard worker and has recently worked as an electrician, working on getting his CA electrician license by taking classes, and working full-time. Manny also is a manager at Oceanside Athletic Club, hiring and training coaches, teaching classes for all ages and coaching one-on-one.

Manny has spent his life helping others, mentoring others and encouraging others.

And now he needs our help. A few days ago, he was followed by a car of young punks (for lack of a better word). He was driving slowly, looking for a certain store to pick up gauze for a fighter he was coaching. A young guy got out of his car, irritated that he was driving too slow, walked up to Manny's and sucker punched him through the window. Manny got out, defended himself and knocked the guy down. Just then his two friends jumped out of the car, rushed Manny, knocked him off balance and caused him to fall back and twisted his knee out of the socket. He dislocated his whole knee, tore the ACL, MCL, LCL and Patella, and broke the knee as well. His leg was left dangling. In a weird twist of events, the cowards, who needed 3 guys to take down one, suddenly freaked out when they saw his leg dangling, felt bad and helped him back into his car. Manny drove himself to the hospital.

This attack has changed Manny's life. He is in constant pain and is unable to play with his kids like he used to. It's excruciating just to walk from his car to his apartment. He is still showing up for his coaching job and teaching on crutches... because he can't afford to lose his job.

Manny's main income now is his coaching job which is part-time. He does not qualify for MediCal but has applied for other coverage and is waiting to make sure his insurance company will cover his preexisting condition.

Right now he needs $500 for a deposit for surgery and the surgery total will be at least $25,000. He is in excruciating pain right now (10/10) and needs any help we can offer.

He has filed a police report. These assaults are happening all over Vista and the perpetrators seem to keep getting away with it.

Thank you for any help, no matter how small, as he navigates this injury.