Lee aims to deliver in the ring for hospice youngsters

A local delivery driver inspired by the nursing work of his sister is poised to step into the ring and literally fight to raise funds to support youngsters with life-limiting conditions.

Lee Pegg, 45, from Anstey will swap his driving gloves for a set of boxing gloves to take part in a ‘Challenge Charity Boxing’ tournament later this month in support of Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People.

He says he has been motivated by his sister Zena Barratt, a nurse at Rainbows. “The work Zena does at the Loughborough-based hospice is amazing – and it is such a worthy cause to raise money for. I’ve not boxed since I was a nine-year-old kid, but I am going to give it my best shot.,” Lee added.

Lee is one of dozens of amateurs taking part in the charity boxing event organised by fight enthusiasts Faisal Nathani and Nathan Leverton, who have offered eight weeks of free training at Shootfighters Gym in Leicester. The training, which began in January, will culminate in a tournament at the 3,000-seat Leicester Arena on Saturday, 24 March, 2018 – and is set to raise a five-figure sum for the Loughborough-based charity.

It’s the second in a series of similar events – the first tournament, in November, raised around £10,000. Over the next two years Mr Leverton and Mr Nathani aim to raise £50,000 for Rainbows, which cares for more than 400 youngsters and their families across the East Midlands.

Mr Leverton, 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.”

Lee added: “I am not the fittest, but started running after Christmas and have been doing the boxing training with the guys at the gym since the end of January. It has been hard, but everyone’s been great. I’ll just do my best on the big night for the Rainbows youngsters. I’m looking forward to it.”

He is also joined in his charity boxing bid by Rainbows staff Sanjay Gogna, IT Manager and Vicki Brunt, Events Fundraiser. Pictured with Lee, Vicki said: “We’re all amateurs, with most of us stepping into a boxing ring for the first time. But the training’s excellent and fun – and the big fight night should be amazing. We’re just so grateful to everyone involved in helping to raise funds, which enables Rainbows to support youngsters and their families when they need it most.”