Get into the boxing ring for hospice youngsters

Two local boxing enthusiasts are hosting a ‘Challenge Charity Boxing’ tournament to raise funds for youngsters with life-limiting conditions.

Faisal Nathani and Nathan Leverton are offering amateurs eight weeks of free boxing training at Shootfighters Gym in Leicester (voted one of the top five Mixed Martial Arts gyms in the UK) which will culminate in a tournament to remember at the 3000-seat Leicester Arena on Saturday, 24 March 2018.

This is the second in a series of similar events – the first event, in November, raised around £10,000. In the next two years Mr Leverton and Mr Nathani aim to raise £50,000 for Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, which cares for hundreds of youngsters across the East Midlands.

Mr Leverton, pictured, who is Head Coach at Shootfighters, said: “We visited Rainbows and had a tour, and we were so moved by the bravery of the children and families in the face of such difficult circumstances. The facilities at Rainbows are amazing and they do so much to help the people who come to them, so this is our way of giving a little something back.”

Mr Nathani, who works for JDA Software in Berkshire, added: “We currently have 40 people signed up and will be encouraging everyone to raise as much as possible. There is still space for more competitors – it’s suitable for men and women who are complete beginners to boxing and will be great fun as well as raising some money for a brilliant cause.”

Jess Dixon, Community Fundraiser at Rainbows, added: “We’d like to thank Faisal and Nathan, as well as all the competitors in Challenge Charity Boxing, for choosing to support Rainbows. We rely so much on the generosity of our community and they are all doing a wonderful thing raising funds to help us run the hospice and be there for all the people who need us.”

Training begins on 23 January and places are still available. To find out more about Challenge Charity Boxing or to sign up, visit https://www.challengecharityboxing.co.uk/ or follow Challenge Charity Boxing on Facebook.