Mania Club Celebrates a Decade of Community-Driven Impact
Founded by passionate professional wrestling fans more than a decade ago, Mania Club has established itself as a longtime V Foundation for Cancer Research DIY (Do-It-Yourself) fundraising community with a powerful mission: supporting lifesaving pediatric cancer research. What began as a grassroots gathering has evolved into a global movement fueled by compassion, connection, and the belief that fandom can create meaningful change, raising over $200,000 for childhood cancer research in the last decade.
Mania Club first began in 2016 at WrestleMania 32 in Dallas, where co-founders Ashontay Owens and Gary Fonseca organized a tailgate through Facebook for fellow wrestling fans. This simple pre-event gathering quickly became something much bigger, collecting more than $3,600 in donations that day to support WWE’s newly established charity initiative, Connor’s Cure.
Inspired by the story of Connor Michalek, a young WWE fan and cancer thriver whose courage touched millions, Connor’s Cure was first launched by WWE in 2014 to support pediatric cancer research at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The mission expanded in 2016 when Connor’s Cure partnered with the V Foundation to award grants to exceptional pediatric researchers nationwide. For many Mania Club members, they saw in Connor the same joy, passion, and love for wrestling that first brought them together.
“Some groups simply use the word ‘community,’ but we truly embody the ideals of inclusiveness, respect, and impact in everything we do,” said Andy Kolodziej, current Mania Club Community Manager. “So many of us experienced the innocent love of wrestling that shined in Connor, and we’ll continue fighting to be sure that isn’t unfairly taken from any child.”
Since that first tailgate, Mania Club has grown from 150 attendees to a worldwide community of more than 230,000 members. Along the way, the organization has raised more than $200,000 to support pediatric research advancements for Connor’s Cure and the V Foundation. Through the years, the group has received personal recognition for their efforts from Stephanie McMahon, long-time WWE executive and co-founder of Connor’s Cure.
“We are fans that champion change for the betterment of various causes through time, money and energy,” Mania Club co-founder Ashontay Owens said. “We’re a community. In a community there is a familiar, familial feel. You can join our group of 230,000 fans who have similar interests and be unapologetically yourself.”
That sense of purpose and connection is echoed throughout the organization. Moderator Michael LaRosa, who has been part of Mania Club since 2019, believes it stands apart because of its commitment to giving back.
“While most fan community groups focus solely on what is going on in the wrestling world, we here at Mania Club encompass philanthropy to do good in the communities we serve,” said LaRosa.
Andy Long, a Community Manager and original Mania Club Member since 2016, added, “After seeing Connor’s story, as a wrestling fan you see beyond the theatrics of wrestling. There are so many different people, different walks of life, different nationalities that love wrestling, but also love doing more from a charitable point of view.”
That culture extends well beyond fundraising. Mania Club keeps members engaged year-round through watch parties, live discussion threads, meetups, tailgates, contests, and volunteer opportunities. One of its newest initiatives, “One Day,” brings members together to volunteer at children’s hospitals, soup kitchens, and community organizations before attending wrestling events together.
For Owens, the mission of supporting pediatric cancer research is deeply personal and closely tied to his professional life.
“I have a soft spot for wanting to keep people safe,” he said. “As a fire chief, it is my sworn duty to protect people, even if that means putting my own life on the line. No child should have to deal with pediatric cancer.”
Pediatric cancer remains one of the leading causes of disease-related death among children, and funding for innovative research is critical to developing safer, more effective therapies for their growing bodies. With 100% of direct donations going directly to research at the V Foundation, Mania Club members know their efforts are helping fund the best of the best.
The emotional impact of Mania Club’s work is often felt in small but memorable moments. Moderator James Testerman recalled sending a wrestling print to a child battling cancer who was a huge fan of wrestler Rhea Ripley.
“Hearing that it made them happy proves what we do has a major impact,” Testerman said.
As Mania Club looks toward the future, its members hope their legacy will be measured not only in dollars raised, but in the role they played in helping advance meaningful progress for young patients.
“We’re not scientists,” Owens said. “We’re just a group of normal, everyday people who’ve come together in solidarity to support and advance the mission of eradicating cancer. We’re one tiny cog in the wheel, but my hope is through time, money and energy, that we can say we were part of funding the research that led to the breakthrough of finding a cure.”