Hull Daily Mail donates £2,100 to St Paul's Boxing Academy

YOUNGSTERS from Luke Campbell's boxing club will be able to enjoy new equipment following a donation by the Mail.

The paper has donated £2,100 to St Paul's Boxing Academy after Luke clinching gold in London 2012.

Mike Bromby, head coach at St Paul's, said the money would go towards helping the club buy new equipment for the boxers.

He said: "It's great. We are looking to buy equipment for the boxers and it will really help with travelling costs.

"We have to take our members here and there for shows to get them some experience.

"Luke's success has meant we have had an even bigger influx of youngsters to the club and we have about 230 members now.

"We have had to put on even more sessions to make sure we can meet the demands of both our male and female boxers."

In any one evening, up to 50 boxers can train at the North Church Side club.

The club's eight coaches give up their time voluntarily to train three amateur sessions per night, as well as the club's growing professional stable.

Mr Bromby said: "Really, what this donation will help to do is keep the gym open.

"It is not just about equipment, it is also the general running costs of the gym, which is a massive part of it."

Members are charged a minimal fee to train – something the club believes is key to making the sport is accessible to all.

Mr Bromby said: "We want to keep subs to a minimum so everyone can access the club.

"If we need to find funding, we will find funding and not take it from the kids whose parents maybe haven't got the money to bring them down.

"This gym is about creating future champions. Any funding we get is to improve facilities or for travel opportunities.

"We want to see more boxers from Hull at the Olympics.

"Since Luke won the atmosphere has been buzzing here.

"The kids are improving fast because it has given them more of a direction."

As well as learning how to box, the club's fighters are taught respect and the importance of giving back to the local community.

In the past month, boxers from the club have been at fundraising events in Bilton and Greatfield.

Mr Bromby said: "It is about giving time for others. That is a massive part of the gym.

"They all want to achieve what Luke Campbell has, and a massive part of that is discipline and respect in life."

Money donated to the club came from profits from a 24-page souvenir pull-out in the Mail of Luke Campbell's Olympic success.

Mike Pennington, publisher and managing director at the Mail, said: "Luke Campbell is a fantastic role model for children in this city and we wanted to celebrate his achievement with this small donation.

"Hull has a fine tradition of producing world-class boxers and no more so than St Paul's.

"We hope this donation will not only ensure the club is able to buy new equipment, but also help bring on the next generation of Olympic boxers."

St Paul's professional boxers will be in action at the Bonus Arena on Saturday where Luke will be the guest of honour.

For tickets, call 07989 907344 or 07907 397278.