Colorado MMA Community Grieves the Loss of Alex ‘Doc’ Constantinides Wife and ChildrenInformation on how and where to send support
Tuesday morning July 19, 2011 Dr. Alex Constantinides, affectionately known as ‘Doc’ in the MMA community suffered an unimaginable tragedy. While camping in Wyoming the family's campsite was hit with a flash flood. In leaving the area their van plunged into a washout and Laurel Constantinides and their three daughters Hanah, 8, Zoe, 5, and Lucia 2 lost their lives.
In the hours following the release of the news, the MMA community has come together to express their heartbreak and offer help. Alex and Laurel had two passions in their life that overshadowed all others. First is their love of family and second, their involvement in the adoption and foster community. Laurel had transitioned from her career as a social worker to become an adoption counselor for Chinese Children Adoption International. Their passion is reflected by the fact that their three children were all adopted internationally.
Everyone that knows ‘Doc’ sees him as one of the most selfless and compassionate people that they have ever known. You could not spend time with him without being touched by the experience. His caring was infectious and as one friend stated, "Being near him makes you want to be a better person." His tireless efforts in the MMA community were recognized by way of him being voted the MMA "Man Of The Year" in Colorado MMA 2009. ‘Doc’ worked as a ringside physician at the majority of Colorado MMA events and has also worked for the UFC when they held events in Denver, Colorado.
‘Doc’ had the appreciation of every fighter that has come under his care and one fighter stated, "You could think for hours and hours and never come up with a bad thing to be able to say about Alex." Many Colorado athletes count Dr. Alex as their personal physician outside of sporting events and the MMA community is full of stories of ‘Doc’ caring for athletes outside of office hours and staying late after events to make certain every athlete under his care had the proper post-fight medical attention. ‘Doc’ strives to experience every aspect of MMA to be able to better serve the fighters in his duties as a ringside physician. He has also been a trainer, corner man, play-by-play commentator and, showing that he wished to experience life rather than just witness it, he has an MMA fight on his record. He stated, "I want to go through the training for a bout and be in the ring to experience what the fighters experience so I can better understand how to provide care." Such is the level of his commitment to the athletes under his care.
Although none of us can begin to imagine what a person feels under these circumstances we can pull together as a community to let Alex know that he never has to carry this burden alone.
There are two ways that we can help make certain that the love of Laurel, Hanah, Zoe and Lucia continues to affect many lives for years to come. In lieu of sending flowers please take time to go to
www.halfthesky.org and make a donation in the name of the Constantinides family. This is an organization that offers care for China's orphaned children. The front page of their site has a "Donate Now" button. Please give all you can so that others may benefit from the passion of the Constantinides family. Additionally,
www.ChineseChildren.org is the website associated with the Chinese Children Adoption International where Laurel Constantinides worked. This website also has a donation button and anything that can be donated in the name of the Constantinides family will ensure that their passion continues too benefit others.
Additionally, this Saturday July 23, at the Fight 2 Win MMA event, UFC fighters; Shane Carwin, Brendan Schaub, Duane Ludwig, Nate Marquardt and Eliott Marshall will be signing autographs for donations from 6 to 7pm at with all proceeds going to
www.halfthesky.org.
For information and statements please contact JR Gordon at
JRSFITNESS@aol.com