We Live Here people
Harry Hunsucker is
The
Hurricane
UFC fighter goes to the mat for local kids
Words by | Nathan Hutchinson
Harry Hunsucker spent most of his teenage years living in a filthy , run-down trailer park in Rockcastle County .
It was a place where drugs , alcohol and crime were rampant .
“ Our bathtub was falling through the floor ,” Hunsucker said . “ It was roach-infested . There are people , however , who have had it a lot worse than me , but I just knew that I was not one of those people who was going to let life beat me ,” Hunsucker said . He fought back . Literally . Hunsucker signed a four-match deal with the UFC ( Ultimate Fighting Championship ) last month and recently had a nationally televised bout with one of the top heavyweight fighters in the world . It ’ s a stunning success story . Hunsucker , however , has never forgotten his rather humble roots .
Those memories have driven him to make a difference in the lives of local kids who find themselves in similar situations .
“ I was just going to go to store and wipe out the toy aisles and go give them away ,” Hunsucker said of how he was going to spend some of the prize money from his most recent fight . “( My wife , Vanessa ) told me that I needed to do something that was going to last .”
Vanessa — who is also from Rockcastle County — came from the same kind of background as Hunsucker .
“ We both grew up in ( rough neighborhoods ),” Vanessa said . “ I just thought it would cool to show up ( in those kind of neighborhoods ) with a truckload full of bikes and have all the kids come grab one . I thought that would be special .”
Her suggestion was the inspiration for Hunsucker to do just that .
The fighter is trying to raise at least $ 5,000 for the purchase of bikes to be given away to children in both Madison and Rockcastle Counties .
“ I just want to make kids happy ,” Hunsucker said .
The 2021 Active Summer Kids Bike Giveaway has already raised more than 80 percent of that goal and Hunsucker is hopeful he can deliver the special gifts to local children sometime around Memorial Day weekend .
“ I just want to do something to give back ,” said Hunsucker , who is nicknamed Hurricane . “ In the beginning , I was just going to use my money and then ( Richmond City Commissioner ) Ed ( McDaniel ) and some other people told me we should try to raise more funds , because people would want to get involved that it .”
The total amount collected through all the fund-raising efforts will be split evenly for bike give-aways in Richmond and Mt . Vernon .
Hunsucker had already decided to put in $ 1,000 of his own money .
McDaniel stepped in to help and offered to organize the event at the park so the fighter