Help Kevin Arnold win gold for the USA!
Dear friends,
We are looking for your help. Kevin Arnold is a 27 year old heavy weight MMA fighter that is honored to be chosen as a heavy weight fighter for the USA national team for the IMMAF (International Mixed Martial Arts Federation). Kevin was meant to start his MMA journey years ago, but tragedy mixed with bad life decisions as a teenager made all of Kevin’s dreams come to a screeching halt. Please read his story.
Kevin’s amazing strength and talent was noticed by many when he was just 5 years old. Kevin’s father (Kevin Sr.) was an avid MMA, boxing, and wrestling enthusiast. When Kevin Sr. noticed his sons raw talent, he decided to put him in wrestling. Even at just 5 years old Kevin excelled at the sport and was a true natural. His father would often host “fight parties” for Kevin and his friends. All of the kids would wrestle and spar. It was the beginning of a bright future for Kevin, who was known to be able to tap kids out that were sometimes older and bigger than him. The entire family and all of their friends just knew Kevin Jr. would be a fighter one day.
Then at 11 years of age, Kevin Jr.’s life was turned upside down. Kevin’s mother Rose was tragically killed in a car accident. Two months after that, Kevin’s father was murdered by a family member. Kevin and his 2 younger siblings were then forced to move from their family home into their grandmother’s home in another town. Just as things started to seem to get as “normal” as they could, their grandmother passed away as well.
Kevin and his 2 younger siblings were then forced move in with a family member that Kevin never got along with. He was 13 at this point and did not feel wanted in the home. Due to these circumstances Kevin would often times sleep on the streets or in a car. The switch between home and the streets became a normal cycle for Kevin as a teenager.
Even through all of this adversity Kevin still loved to wrestle and found a way to compete all through high school. He also held a part time job at a local meat market. Kevin held the record for the team of most pins in one season, and practiced very hard. His work ethic was very noticeable. He ended up becoming an accomplished wrestler with several full ride college scholarships being offered to him. At one point Kevin was offered a spot on the USA’s wrestling team. He wasn’t encouraged to take the offer, and since he wasn’t legally an adult, there was nothing he could do.
At around 17 years of age Kevin started making bad choices. He was an angry teenager who was mad at the world and had no guidance. Just a few months after Kevin’s 18th birthday he was arrested on several charges of residential burglary. He bonded out of jail 100 days after he was arrested and was given a future court date. During those 100 days Kevin vowed to never get into trouble again and he swore that his past would not write his future. A few months after Kevin served 100 days, the courts removed his 2 younger siblings from the home with an order of protection that Kevin filed for. The pastor of Kevin’s church took custody of the kids (at Kevin’s request) since Kevin was facing prison time.
Kevin was convicted on 2 counts of residential burglary and was taken into custody to serve his sentence. While many people in this situation give excuses on why they go to prison, Kevin has never once made an excuse for his arrest or his conviction. He has never blamed his circumstances or his bad decisions on anyone but himself. However, as a previously licensed child welfare specialist that has worked with troubled youth for several years, I can say that I have never heard of a story as tragic as Kevin’s life story.
After serving 3 years in prison Kevin was released, had a job within a week, and was placed on 2 years of parole. He did so well in society that he was taken off of parole a year earlier than he was originally scheduled. Kevin never got into trouble again.
In October 2018 Kevin grew tired of working “dead end” jobs. He grew tired of being turned down from the good jobs due to his past and his conviction. I asked Kevin “What do you want to do? What do you love to do? What are you good at?” He responded very quickly with “MMA”. Only in this conversation did I learn of any of Kevin’s wrestling accomplishments, or of any of his dreams and his father’s dreams of him one day becoming a fighter. He explained that he never told me any of this information because he just figured it was too late for him and that his dream was gone. After hearing all of the details I immediately told him to quit his job and start training full time.
Kevin has been training ever since that day. He trains 6-7 days a week two to three times a day. He has worked a couple of part time jobs since last October in an effort to help out with the bills, but the hours always intervene with Kevin’s training and his training must come first.
Finally, some great news came in! Kevin got a call informing him that he has been chosen for a spot on the United States National MMA team. This means that he has been selected to travel to another country (Bahrain) and represent the United States in the MMA competition in November 2019. This is an event that brings 60 countries together to fight for the title of being the champion of the International MMA Federation. If he wins, he is recognized as the world champ and so is the United States! This competition holds 5 MMA fights over a several day period, and is known to be one of the toughest competitions in the world. Tough is something that Kevin has grown to be and he is definitely the guy for the job.
The only issue Kevin faces now is that he will need to raise money to be able to compete and he will need to raise it by October 1st to ensure his travel plans. As Kevin’s wife I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to see his hard work pay off! The money donated will be used for the expenses of the trip and the competition. Just one plane ticket to Bahrain averages between $1500 to $3000 depending on when it is booked. Then there is hotel costs for the entire trip, food cost for the entire trip, and the cost of his passport. Any amount of money you can donate will help. I can assure you that when you donate to this cause you are helping someone that truly deserves it. Kevin is not only the most humble person I have ever met, he is also a man who has lost so much in his life that I’d like to see him be given this chance of a lifetime. A second chance. Thank you to anyone that can donate to this cause!!
We are looking for your help. Kevin Arnold is a 27 year old heavy weight MMA fighter that is honored to be chosen as a heavy weight fighter for the USA national team for the IMMAF (International Mixed Martial Arts Federation). Kevin was meant to start his MMA journey years ago, but tragedy mixed with bad life decisions as a teenager made all of Kevin’s dreams come to a screeching halt. Please read his story.
Kevin’s amazing strength and talent was noticed by many when he was just 5 years old. Kevin’s father (Kevin Sr.) was an avid MMA, boxing, and wrestling enthusiast. When Kevin Sr. noticed his sons raw talent, he decided to put him in wrestling. Even at just 5 years old Kevin excelled at the sport and was a true natural. His father would often host “fight parties” for Kevin and his friends. All of the kids would wrestle and spar. It was the beginning of a bright future for Kevin, who was known to be able to tap kids out that were sometimes older and bigger than him. The entire family and all of their friends just knew Kevin Jr. would be a fighter one day.
Then at 11 years of age, Kevin Jr.’s life was turned upside down. Kevin’s mother Rose was tragically killed in a car accident. Two months after that, Kevin’s father was murdered by a family member. Kevin and his 2 younger siblings were then forced to move from their family home into their grandmother’s home in another town. Just as things started to seem to get as “normal” as they could, their grandmother passed away as well.
Kevin and his 2 younger siblings were then forced move in with a family member that Kevin never got along with. He was 13 at this point and did not feel wanted in the home. Due to these circumstances Kevin would often times sleep on the streets or in a car. The switch between home and the streets became a normal cycle for Kevin as a teenager.
Even through all of this adversity Kevin still loved to wrestle and found a way to compete all through high school. He also held a part time job at a local meat market. Kevin held the record for the team of most pins in one season, and practiced very hard. His work ethic was very noticeable. He ended up becoming an accomplished wrestler with several full ride college scholarships being offered to him. At one point Kevin was offered a spot on the USA’s wrestling team. He wasn’t encouraged to take the offer, and since he wasn’t legally an adult, there was nothing he could do.
At around 17 years of age Kevin started making bad choices. He was an angry teenager who was mad at the world and had no guidance. Just a few months after Kevin’s 18th birthday he was arrested on several charges of residential burglary. He bonded out of jail 100 days after he was arrested and was given a future court date. During those 100 days Kevin vowed to never get into trouble again and he swore that his past would not write his future. A few months after Kevin served 100 days, the courts removed his 2 younger siblings from the home with an order of protection that Kevin filed for. The pastor of Kevin’s church took custody of the kids (at Kevin’s request) since Kevin was facing prison time.
Kevin was convicted on 2 counts of residential burglary and was taken into custody to serve his sentence. While many people in this situation give excuses on why they go to prison, Kevin has never once made an excuse for his arrest or his conviction. He has never blamed his circumstances or his bad decisions on anyone but himself. However, as a previously licensed child welfare specialist that has worked with troubled youth for several years, I can say that I have never heard of a story as tragic as Kevin’s life story.
After serving 3 years in prison Kevin was released, had a job within a week, and was placed on 2 years of parole. He did so well in society that he was taken off of parole a year earlier than he was originally scheduled. Kevin never got into trouble again.
In October 2018 Kevin grew tired of working “dead end” jobs. He grew tired of being turned down from the good jobs due to his past and his conviction. I asked Kevin “What do you want to do? What do you love to do? What are you good at?” He responded very quickly with “MMA”. Only in this conversation did I learn of any of Kevin’s wrestling accomplishments, or of any of his dreams and his father’s dreams of him one day becoming a fighter. He explained that he never told me any of this information because he just figured it was too late for him and that his dream was gone. After hearing all of the details I immediately told him to quit his job and start training full time.
Kevin has been training ever since that day. He trains 6-7 days a week two to three times a day. He has worked a couple of part time jobs since last October in an effort to help out with the bills, but the hours always intervene with Kevin’s training and his training must come first.
Finally, some great news came in! Kevin got a call informing him that he has been chosen for a spot on the United States National MMA team. This means that he has been selected to travel to another country (Bahrain) and represent the United States in the MMA competition in November 2019. This is an event that brings 60 countries together to fight for the title of being the champion of the International MMA Federation. If he wins, he is recognized as the world champ and so is the United States! This competition holds 5 MMA fights over a several day period, and is known to be one of the toughest competitions in the world. Tough is something that Kevin has grown to be and he is definitely the guy for the job.
The only issue Kevin faces now is that he will need to raise money to be able to compete and he will need to raise it by October 1st to ensure his travel plans. As Kevin’s wife I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to see his hard work pay off! The money donated will be used for the expenses of the trip and the competition. Just one plane ticket to Bahrain averages between $1500 to $3000 depending on when it is booked. Then there is hotel costs for the entire trip, food cost for the entire trip, and the cost of his passport. Any amount of money you can donate will help. I can assure you that when you donate to this cause you are helping someone that truly deserves it. Kevin is not only the most humble person I have ever met, he is also a man who has lost so much in his life that I’d like to see him be given this chance of a lifetime. A second chance. Thank you to anyone that can donate to this cause!!
Organizer
Kevin Arnold
Organizer
House Springs, MO