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THE BIG FIGHT - SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2010 – PLEASE SPONSOR ME!!
On Saturday January 23 I will quite literally be getting smashed for SMASH. To raise money for SMASH I will be taking part in a Boxing match against a fellow heavyweight! This fight is the second part of a double challenge I set myself in May. After completing the Triathlon (see below) I moved onto boxing – starting my training in August. I hope that as I am prepared to get hit for charity this will encourage you to sponsor me. It is a unique challenge for me and unlike anything I have taken on before. There have been moments when I have found it tough but now after going through several rounds of sparring I am up for the big fight and welcome any additional support either via sponsorship here or encouragement on the night itself.
With your support a target of £500 is achievable. Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: SMASH gets your money faster and, if you’re a taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
THE TWO CHALLENGES
Both involve learning new technical skills and achieving the specific type of fitness required. Individually they present their own unique tests.
TRIATHLON (1500m Swim – 40km Bike Ride – 10km Run) – COMPLETED JULY 2009
I successfully took part in my first Triathlon (Olympic length) at the . Besides putting in the miles to be able to complete the cycling and running sections the toughest challenge, with only 2 months to prepare, was to be able to complete the Open Water 1500m swim leg in a reasonable time. Since receiving my certificate at school for swimming 1 length of the pool I had not progressed and seeing the triathlon distance marked out on a at the CWP I came to the conclusion that it was quite a long way to swim! However I attended adult swim lessons to enable me to swim more than 25m front crawl and put in the miles on the lake (at 6.00am weekday mornings!) to get me up to the standard needed.
BOXING – JANUARY 2010
The fight will be 3 rounds and is one on a bill of fights at the that same evening. My opponent for this Heavyweight contest will be 32 year old Nathan from . Event tickets are available on request.
THE CHARITY – THE SMASH YOUTH PROJECT
Having had a personal involvement with the project as one of its mentors I have seen the real difference SMASH makes to vulnerable young peoples’ lives and the wider community. This is achieved primarily by one to one mentoring of the young people concerned.
“Vulnerable” young people are those “who face a number of barriers and obstacles preventing them from achieving their full social, emotional, health and educational potential without additional help”. They are referred from various agencies (e.g. schools, social services) to SMASH. For example, they may be in situations of domestic violence, have low self esteem, have a lack of adult support or be estranged from their families and in the care of the local authority.
Young people appreciate that the mentor is unpaid and is meeting with them because they are genuinely interested in helping them to achieve their own goals. Mentors can be effective because they are separate from the family, not part of “the system” and not in a position of authority.
Examples of how young people on the scheme have benefited include: improved school attendance, gaining places in employment, improved social and independent living skills, increase in self confidence and self esteem and overcoming learning difficulties.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
