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Steel fund backs Teesside boxers fight for funds

ByEmily

Jun 16, 2017

UK Steel Enterprise, the Tata Steel business support subsidiary, has stepped in with £2,500 to help an amateur boxing club in Middlesbrough that is fighting hard to buy desperately-needed equipment.

 

Middlebeck Amateur Boxing Club was started by Curtis Moloney in 2012. He wanted to give something back to the sport he loved and provide a readily available activity that offered focus, a healthy lifestyle and discipline to young people and others on the estate where he lived.

With costs kept to a minimum and training sessions provided three times a week, the Club currently caters for more than 20 enthusiastic youngsters who attend regularly, as well as an equal number of seniors.  Talented boys and girls have the opportunity to progress in the sport and eventually compete in championship and other events.

The £2,500 promised by UK Steel Enterprise from its Community Support Fund, set up to help projects that improve the quality of life for people living in its steel areas, means the Club is now able to replace out-dated equipment and buy much-needed  boxing gloves, speed balls, punch bags and an electronic ring timer.  The Club has raised a further £2000 through its own fund raising activities.

Head Coach Curtis Moloney said: “All our members, coaches and volunteers work really hard and there is a lot of potential talent in the Club.    We do have limited resources and need funds to register our coaches and help them gain further qualifications as well as registering members and paying for improvements and equipment.

“We were desperate for more gloves, bags and other things and the UK Steel Enterprise money has made a huge difference to us so we are very grateful.   We are strengthening our Committee, planning to get the word out to attract more youngsters to come along and hope to put in a bid to Sport England so that we can expand even further.”

Peter Taylor of UK Steel Enterprise, said: “Our Community Support Fund has backed a whole range of projects in Teesside from local community centres, hospices, arts and sports clubs to charities and organisations supporting people with autism, learning disabilities and people who are homeless.

“Middlebeck ABC is doing a great job providing a valuable facility for young people in a disadvantaged area of Middlesbrough and we are pleased that we could help.”

Details of UK Steel Enterprise’s support for businesses and steel communities is available on 01642 777 777 and at www.uksteelenterprise.co.uk.  Middlebeck ABC is on Facebook or call Curtis Moloney on 07881 362 219.

By Emily