Fundraising event raises over £8,500 for Clayton Amateur Boxing Club

Clayton Amateur Boxing Club raised over £8,500 at an extra special fundraising event for the club, which took place in Accrington Stanley’s world class hospitality venue, the 1968 Lounge, on Friday 6th October.

VIP guest for the event was new boxing star and youngest ever finalist on BBC’s The Apprentice, Camilla Ainsworth.

Camila helped raise funds for Clayton ABC, who have provided a safe space for hundreds of children and young people. Some are trying to turn their lives around, others from challenging backgrounds and many are just looking for a place to go in the face of cuts to youth services.

Compered by BBC Radio Lancashire’s Stephen Lowe, the black tie event saw a fantastic line-up of boxing with a large number of Clayton ABC’s boxers on show, as they took on an English Select.

The event also included a delicious two-course dinner, a DJ and live music, a raffle and various auctions.

Raffle prizes up for grabs featured a signed Accrington Stanley football, a bottle of champagne and a signed Accrington Stanley shirt, while the noisy auction included a football boot signed by former England and Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton donated by Rob Williamson, a meal for two at the Crafty Fox donated by #AmazingAccrington, and two VIP tickets to see S Club perform at the AO Arena, donated by LS Studio.

There was also a signed framed picture auction featuring legends from sport, music and film including Eric Cantona, Paul Scholes, Sir Alex Ferguson, Pele, Steven Gerrard, Roger Moore, Liam & Noel Gallagher, Tyson Fury & Deontay Wilder, Manny Pacquaio and Usain Bolt.

John Brindle, Head Coach and volunteer at Clayton Amateur Boxing Club, said: “This event means absolutely everything. Without these nights and without raising this cash, we can’t do what we want to do. We take these kids all over the country week in, week out, as well as abroad, and it costs an absolute fortune to do it, and without events like this, we simply wouldn’t be able to do it.”

Camilla Ainsworth, special VIP guest for the event, commented: “It has been an absolute honour to be at this event. I am so happy that so much money has been raised for such a worthy cause and I would just like to say thank you for having me.”

Sara Britcliffe, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, said: “Clayton ABC are a brilliant club in our community. They provide friendship, fitness and support, so it has been great here to be here raising funds for such a great community club. Well done to John and the team for such an amazing event.”

Cllr Terry Hurn, Mayor of Hyndburn, commented: “It has been wonderful to be here tonight, raising all this money for a very special cause in Clayton ABC, which looks after the youngsters particularly in our area.”

Murray Dawson, Chair of #AmazingAccrington and Managing Director of Scott Dawson Advertising, said: “We are proud to have supported this amazing fundraising event for Clayton ABC including printing the programmes and advertising the event, donating items for the auction and inviting #AmazingAccrington business leaders to attend.

“It is fantastic to see Clayton ABC doing well and a great amount of money has been raised for them, as well as for Accrington Stanley Women.”

You can learn more about Clayton Amateur Boxing Club and get all the information you need about the event on their website: http://www.claytonamateurboxingclub.co.uk/