Mark Packs a Punch at Boxing Club
16 Sep 2009
Mark will return to the Larches & Savick Amateur Boxing Club today (Wednesday 16th September) since he first opened it back in 2002, to help launch their latest fundraising appeal.
The club has already raised £150,000, and needs to raise a further £200,000 to build an extension to house an extra boxing ring, teaching room, gym and sports facilities for the local community.
The club which was set up by Larches & Savick Community Association, targets youngsters from across the local area and is now looking to expand it’s premises to accommodate the increasing number of young people that use the facility. The Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) has pledged £50,000 towards the build with local building firm Marcus Worthington & Co. Ltd contributing a further £100,000.
Mark said: “I am delighted to have been asked to return to the club after seven years, to highlight their fundraising efforts. The fact that they need to expand on such a large scale shows how successful the club has been since it’s inception. I have trained in the past as a boxer myself and I think it’s an excellent sport to teach young people the basics of physical fitness, self-motivation, dedication and discipline.”
Club Chairman, Joe Kilshaw said: “It’s a very exciting time for us and we are thankful to the ABA, Marcus Worthington & Co., the Police, our local councillors and the Preston City Sports Development team who are all fully supportive of our efforts. The improvements will not only help to take more kids off the streets by giving them the space to channel their energies through boxing, but will also benefit the local community. We already work with local schools and the new teaching room will give us the room to do even more work with school children.”
With over 300 members and eight qualified instructors, the club is open to children aged eight and upwards. Junior Sessions (8-15 years are held at 6pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, and Senior Sessions (16 years +) are held at 7pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Ladies Sessions are held on Thursdays at 7pm.