The Chairman of Abingdon Town Amateur Boxing Club, Paul Blair, works hard engaging with and supporting people of all ages, not only within his Club but across Oxfordshire. His community boxing club is located in the sports hall at Abingdon United FC in Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1PL. Paul established the Club as he is aware from his own childhood and adolescence that children and young teenagers need the right resources to keep them off the street and fully engaged in their community in order to maximise their chance of a happy and productive future.
“The Abingdon Town Amateur Boxing Club provides a safe environment for people from all walks of life, whatever their age,” says Paul. “The sport brings structure, discipline, and support to people’s lives, empowering them to make a difference. We operate as a not-for-profit organisation and will assist young people and their parents who are struggling financially to offer the chance for their children to get involved with the Club. Whilst the coaches who train our members focus on getting the most from their boxing skills, I also look out to support anyone who I see is struggling with mental health issues. I have struggled with addiction most of my life and know how hard it is when people do not believe in you to get beyond the addiction. Our Club also works alongside other local charities to help as many people as possible in our local community, building their resilience and helping them to develop the confidence to overcome life’s challenges. During the year, together with my coaches, we raise money for various charitable projects including our own build project and underprivileged youth programme. Our fundraising group is called the Abingdon Extreme Fundraisers, The Gift of Giving and the clue is in the word ‘extreme’”
So far this autumn Abingdon Extreme Fundraisers, The Gift of Giving took on the challenge of travelling from the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington to the Abingdon United FC in a wheelchair. Using all upper body strength their challenge was to overcome the hills and dips in the road for a distance of nearly nine miles. The aim of their ‘Hot Wheels from the Children’s Wing to the Boxing Ring’ fundraiser was to help raise awareness of people with invisible and visual disabilities. The Club has a few Boxers who do not let their disabilities define them and who are determined to join in on a sport that is for anyone and everyone. The wheelchair team comprised of Chairman Paul Blair, Head Coaches David Southey and Lukey Boy Milligan, and Extreme Fundraisers Simon Hamlet Waller, Martin Lew Conder and Luke Brandish. Funds raised would be split between starting the process for the build of Abingdon Town Amateur BoxingClub’s build project and to help support the scheme the Club runs to help the underprivileged young people at the Club.
During November, the fundraising team has been asking people to support their advent calendar collection to enable them to gift all the children in hospital within the John Radcliffe’s Children Hospital with an advent calendar to enable them to count down to Christmas themselves.
Finally, to conclude 2023, the Abingdon Extreme Fundraisers, The Gift of Giving’s December challenge will be giving up time with their family and loved ones over the Christmas period to either sleep rough or fast for anything from 24 to 72 hours from the 23 December until the 27 December. Paul Blair intends to fast for 72 hours so he is hoping that they will all get support from the public. Money raised will go to Hope and Vision Communities
If you would like to donate to the Abingdon Town Amateur Boxing Club’s build project and underprivileged youth programme, please visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/abingdonextremefundraisers
For further information please visit abingdonboxing.org or Facebook Abingdon Town Amateur Boxing Club.
