By Daniel Noble
A FUNDRAISING campaign has been launched to help Ards Boxing and Fitness Club as it aims to make a return after announcing closure just over two weeks ago.
The club was forced to disband after being unable to secure a permanent premises, seemingly bringing a 49-year involvement in the sport to an end for head coach Stevie Quinn.
However, it has now been revealed that Quinn and his boxers have been offered a new home on the Donaghadee Road, restoring the hope that a muchneeded community hub may not be lost after all.
Still, despite the boost of a new venue, the effects of the closure continue to linger on, as a lack of equipment, including a ring, punch bags and gloves, is another issue that needs to be addressed.
Believing the club was gone for good, Quinn gave his existing boxing gear to another local gym and will now have to start anew.
“We thought that was it for the club, but someone got in touch to offer new premises. When we though that was it for us, the equipment was given to another club,” he explained.
“So, now we have to try and raise the funds needed for new equipment. It’s like starting all over again, but the positive thing is we can get a ring in the new place, which we didn’t have the room for previously.”
Upon hearing the news of his local boxing club’s struggles, a friend of Quinn, Anto Wickham, decided he wanted to do something to help.
He did so by starting a GoFundMe page, with a target of £15,000, calling on the local community to ‘help bring Ards Boxing Club back to life,’ whether that be through donations or simply by sharing the fundraiser.
“When I was working overseas and came home, I used the gym as somewhere to train. I saw the benefit of the club for the community, for people of all ages.
“In today’s society, if kids aren’t stuck in front of screen, there’s nothing for them to do, or they’re out getting into trouble, but Stevie was helping people who were going down the wrong path and turned their lives around.
“For something like that to be priced out, I just thought ‘we can’t let this happen, we can’t let Ards Boxing Club die,’ because its something that part of the community rely on.”
In its first week, the campaign has drawn donation of just under £1,600, and Wickham believes every little helps when it comes to getting the club back on its feet.
“I’ve been very pleased with the response from the local community. When I look at the donations, both big and small, I’ve been taken aback,” he added.
“The first 24 hours was amazing and although it has slowed down, I’m hoping we can achieve our target. Even if we raise a few thousand, that would be a great start.”
