A dozen lion-hearted fundraisers went toe-to-toe – or fist-to-fist – to help raise £6,800 for The Kirkwood Supports Life.
Organised by Left Jab Boxing, the Boxing 4 You spectacular is a white-collar boxing event. Sixty fighters took part, 12 of them raising money for the Huddersfield hospice.
The plucky fighters putting it all on the line for The Kirkwood were: Neil McAliskey, Ben Marshall, Gary Mitchell, Leanne Batley, John Fox, James Hamlet, Matthew Littlewood, Isaac Donaldson, Alison Rogan, Jordan Smith, Nicky Mallinson and Conor Smith.
The boxing exhibition was a huge success, with fans flocking to the Apna Venue in Huddersfield to catch the action. On the night, the boxers raised a staggering £31,567 in total.
Boxing 4 You events have now raised over £112,000 for various charities since they began in 2016, with brave boxers helping to raise over £50,000 for The Kirkwood alone.
In front of almost 700 spectators and amid a fantastic atmosphere, the 12 Kirkwood fighters took to the ring in memory of some very special people namely: Gerard McAliskey, Ken Dewhirst, Eugenia Cyrus, Beryl Hinchliffe, Alan Littlewood, Angela Sutcliffe, Karen McLean and Brian Thornton.
All 60 boxers took part in a 10-week training programme prior to stepping into the ring. Each fighter was put through their paces with three sessions a week. They also completed a fitness test and medical to ensure they were fit enough to box. All the training was provided free of charge by Left Jab Boxing Club who have being the driving force behind the event since its inception.
The funds were raised through online donations along with a community fundraising day.
The awards from the night were announced at Cleopatra’s Lounge in Huddersfield, followed by an after-party at Rhubarb.
Event organiser Sean Reynolds, of Left Jab Promotions, said: “We are very pleased with how it went. With having to cancel our 2020 event in March last year due to Covid it was great to get back to it.
“It’s great to be able to offer a platform that helps so many people in our own community. The crowd on the night were incredible. They are a credit to themselves and the boxers who took part.
“There was a lot of passion and enthusiasm at the event, with almost 700 people in attendance, all getting behind each and every boxer.”
Julia Owen, community fundraiser with The Kirkwood, was delighted by the success of the event and said: “A huge thank you goes to Shaun Reynolds and the team at Left Jab Promotions for the incredible work they put in to organising Boxing 4 You and training all the fundraisers.
“It’s a huge undertaking and we are immensely proud to have been so well supported by the team over the years.
“The biggest thanks of all goes to Neil, Ben, Gary, Leanne, John, James, Matthew, Isaac, Alison, Jordan, Nicky and Conor for making the brave decision to step into the ring for The Kirkwood, and for raising such an amazing amount.
“Their support makes a huge difference for people affected by life-limiting illnesses here in Kirklees. Thanks to them, we continue to be there for families wherever they need our help.”
