Editor’s Note: Jesse Bell, an organizer of this event, is the Program Coordinator at CFRC 101.9FM.
Kingston’s wrestling community united over the weekend to back a fundraiser for one of their own.
Kyle Leader, known as “KL Shock” in the ring, has been a fixture in the local wrestling circuit for 15 years, coaching at the Independent Wrestling Academy (IWA). His mother Laurrie Leader was diagnosed with ALS in 2023. While ALS Canada offers support for baseline medical expenses, other costs like mobility aids have fallen on the Leader family.
Following Laurrie’s diagnosis, Kyle and the IWA team had the idea to host the fundraising event. Nearly 40 wrestlers from near and far showcased the drama and athleticism of professional wrestling at Cataraqui Arena on May 25 in the IWA’s biggest show in Kingston to date” “Step Up: A Show for Mom.”
“I wanted to do something extraordinary for someone extraordinary,” Leader wrote in a post promoting the event.
