With strength, it’s easiest to recognise when it involves a bruise – when a fighter takes a hit, stays on his feet, and keeps going. Perhaps that’s why strength can often be conflated with self-sufficiency, especially when it comes to many common perceptions of masculinity. To be strong is to stay composed, push through difficulties, and handle your problems on your own.
But there is another side to strength that is much less visible: knowing when something is too much to carry alone, and being willing to say so. And that’s exactly the conversation that RESTORE, a Boxing and Muay Thai fundraiser by Fellowship of Men Singapore (FMS), is planning to achieve.
The RSS: a safe shelter for men
The Fellowship of Men Singapore (FMS) is built around a simple idea: men should not have to navigate difficult moments in isolation. Its work focuses on building supportive communities where men can develop emotional resilience, forge healthy relationships, and seek support when they need it.
It is also this belief in fellowship over isolation that sits behind RESTORE, a fundraiser supporting FMS’ proposed Restorative Stability Shelter (RSS) pilot.
Intended for men who need somewhere to stay during times of crisis, the pilot would provide short-term accommodation of up to seven nights, alongside mentorship, support, and referrals to relevant services. Each placement would be guided by an individual support and safety plan, giving men space to stabilise and work towards their next steps.
For FMS founder Didih, however, notes that accommodation is only one part of the picture.
“Accommodation alone cannot resolve a crisis. The time away can help a man stabilise, consider his responsibilities, and connect with the right support, while keeping everyone’s safety in view.” he says.
For Zidan, taking part in RESTORE is about showing that no one has to face their struggles alone. His time with FMS has also changed how he looks at the people around him.
“You can see a man going about his day and have no idea what he is dealing with. Many of us face hardship on our own, but some struggles are too difficult to carry alone. That has made me more aware of the need to look out for one another.”
It is also what he wants his fight to represent.
“I’m fighting to show men who are struggling that they are not fighting alone. I want them to know that we see them and genuinely care about what they are going through.”
Training for the fight has reinforced that perspective too. For Zidan, stepping into the ring has taught him humility and respect, especially when training alongside people with different experiences and backgrounds. It is a lesson he hopes to carry with him beyond the fight.
His advice to men who are struggling is straightforward: “Speak up rather than isolate yourself,” says Zidan. “You do not have to deal with everything alone.”
Nikko – Asking for help is okay
As one of the younger fighters taking part in RESTORE, for Nikko, stepping into the ring is an opportunity in itself. Even as an exhibition fight, he sees it as a chance to challenge himself, make the most of a purposeful experience, and to support a cause that matters to him.
Since joining FMS, Nikko says he has felt treated like family, with the men around him encouraging and motivating him to work towards his goals. Along the way, they have also given him a different perspective on how men can navigate difficult situations.
“I used to think men usually dealt with their problems on their own. Through FMS, I have seen that they can talk to others and receive support. Having people to turn to can help them find better ways to cope and work out what to do next,” says Nikko.
This is also something he hopes other men will take away from the fundraising event.
“Keeping everything in can make a difficult situation worse,” he says. “Talking may offer support, another perspective, or a next step.”
AJ – Rethinking strength
For AJ, boxing has given him a different way of understanding struggle.
“Sometimes, the only way out is through,” he says. In the ring, getting knocked down and finding your feet again is part of the process. For him, it has also become a reminder that difficult circumstances do not have to determine what comes next.
“I’m not stepping into the ring just to win. I’m stepping in for every man who has been knocked down by life and is still finding the strength to stand back up.”
That experience has also changed how he sees strength. Men are often taught that being strong means handling everything on their own. AJ believes there is strength in recognising when you need support and having the courage to ask for it.
“If no one wants to listen to your story, I will,” he says. “You don’t have to have the right words. You don’t have to have everything figured out. Just don’t suffer in silence.”
Didih – More than a physical fight
Didih, who is also stepping into the ring for RESTORE, sees the sport as an opportunity to put some of these ideas about strength into practice.
“In the ring, fighters agree to rules, boundaries, and supervision. They have to manage their emotions and respect their opponent.”
For him, that distinction matters. Strength does not have to mean intimidation or losing control. It can also mean knowing when to hold back, taking responsibility for your actions, and recognising when you need help.
“Strength is not about intimidating someone or losing control. To me, strength includes restraint, accountability, and knowing when to seek help.”
His words reflect a philosophy that sits at the heart of RESTORE. While the evening will bring boxing and Muay Thai into the spotlight, the bigger aim is to create space for a conversation about men, mental health, and what it means to support someone through a difficult period.
For Didih, sometimes that support can begin with something as simple as noticing when a man is struggling, and reminding him that he does not have to figure everything out by himself.
RESTORE: A fundraising event
RESTORE, a Boxing and Muay Thai fundraiser by Fellowship of Men Singapore (FMS), will take place on 7 November 2026 to raise S$36,500 for its proposed Restorative Stability Shelter pilot. Meet the four men stepping into the ring, hear what strength means to them, and find out how you can get tickets and support the cause.
The event will also be attended by Guest of Honour Mr Shawn Loh, Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC, in support of the evening’s efforts to raise awareness and support for men in crisis.
The evening will be attended by Guest of Honour Mr Shawn Loh, Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC, alongside an audience coming together to support the cause.
If you’d like to catch the bouts and be part of the evening, tickets are available via Eventbrite.
Writer, dreamer and explorer. When she’s not writing for Strada Visual Lab, Ayeeshah spends her time reading, skating and living life to her definition of fullest.
