A YOUNG fighter from Leamington is raising funds to start a girls-only boxing class by running in the Coventry Half Marathon.
Isobel Lockley, who trains at Royal Leamington Spa Amateur Boxing Club in Lillington, hopes to launch the girls-only class soon.
The young fighter recently reached the semi-finals of the England National Development Boxing Championships.
And Lockley is running in the Coventry Half Marathon in April to raise funds for the girls-only class.
Any donations will go directly towards subsidising the cost of the sessions and improving facilities at the not-for-profit club.
Lockley said: “My club is extremely inclusive, and really support me, driving hours to go to girls sparring days, two hours to Bolton for a bout and we even drove four hours to Devon and back for a bout.
“We often have girls and women drop in to a session but only a few come back.
“I really want to change this. We want to create one hour a week where girls can be comfortable and confident.
“We had funding to run this girls-only class for a few weeks last year and it was highly successful. We had eight girls coming every week and some girls really showed promise.
“Unfortunately the funding ended just before Christmas and the class had to end. Only one girl has since joined in with boys sessions.
“This is so upsetting to me that I’ve decided to re-qualify as an England Boxing coach and voluntarily run the sessions myself.
“Since I don’t want anyone to be excluded, I plan to only charge £2 a session, to cover the running costs of the gym.
“I am raising money to kick-start this and hopefully as numbers grow it can be self-sufficient.”
Sessions will take place at Royal Leamington Spa ABC and are open to girls aged 10-years-old and above with beginners to the sport encouraged to sign up.
To donate to Lockley’s cause, visit: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/isobel-lockley-boxing
Jessica’s Promise – a charity which supports children and young people financially in amateur sport – will aid Lockley’s fundraising for the class and gym.
Set up in memory of Jessica Pardo, who loved sport and played rugby, her legacy is now to provide opportunities to children and young people to play sports, to improve mental health and wellbeing.
For more information, visit: jessicaspromise.org
