Police boxing event helps raise £10,000 towards funding of specialist wheelchair for young girl

A young girl from Staffordshire has been gifted a state-of-the-art wheelchair thanks to an international police boxing event that raised £10,000 for charity.

Boxers from our Blue Glove Boxing Academy squared off against other officers from the New York Police Department (NYPD) and New South Wales Police from Australia at a charity event at the DoubleTree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent on 20 April this year.

Alongside supporting bouts, our officers and staff helped to raise a total of £10,000 for The Boparan Trust, a charity which has supported young children across the nation disadvantaged by disability, life-limiting conditions or extreme poverty since 2009.

Thanks to these efforts, the charity was able to present young 15-year-old Paige Woodward, from Stoke-on-Trent, with a specialist wheelchair at the Hanley Community Fire and Police Station yesterday (Thursday 31 October), alongside Chief Constable Chris Noble, officers who helped to set up the event and representatives from The Boparan Trust.

The boxing event itself drew in appearances from the then current BBBofC Middleweight Champion Nathan Heaney, from Meir in Stoke-on-Trent, former Bantamweight champion Ross Burkinshaw and local boxer Scott Lawton. Chief Constable Chris Noble also attended the event alongside Deputy Chief Fire Officer for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Glynn Luznyj.

Chief Constable Chris Noble said: “The fundraising event only lasted a few hours, but thanks to the efforts of all the police forces and partners involved, we have helped to bring Paige and Susan a new lease of life for years to come.

“Our officers and staff are members of our communities too, and they’re always looking for ways to help contribute to important causes and make a difference to local people like Paige and Susan.

“It’s really pleasing to see such a successful fundraising event take place in Staffordshire and I’d like to recognise the efforts of everyone involved for their commitment to local people.”

Gareth Aston, Director of Boparan Charitable Trust, said “We are eternally grateful to the Blue Glove Boxing Academy and their support of our work in transforming young lives across the region.”

To read more about the trust and what they do, visit their website here: Home Page |The Boparan Charitable Trust