Boxers' push-up challenge raises cash for South Shields charity

Members of Horsley Hill Boxing Club were joined by athletes around the world to complete 50,000 push-ups and raise £1,700 for Cancer Connections.

Stevie Winter, boxing coach and secretary of the club in Marsden Road, South Shields, came up with the idea and was inundated with responses from people wanting to get involved.

He said: “I set this target of 50,000 push-ups and posted it on Facebook. There were football teams in Australia taking part and an ice hockey team from Canada too.

“After everyone else had done their bit, we had 10,000 left to do, and 15 of us at the boxing club got together to do them, and we managed it in two hours.

“We also did a seven-mile walk from South Shields Pier to Roker Pier and people sponsored us to do it all.”

Cancer Connections, based in Harton Lane, South Shields, offers therapies and counselling to people diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones.

Stevie added: “We do a lot for charities at the boxing club and raise money for Cancer Connections quite a lot. They do a fantastic job and it’s something that affects all of us.

“It’s great that so many people wanted to get involved, especially since it was people from other parts of the world who probably haven’t heard of the charity.

“It’s fantastic to see so many people wanting to get involved, and I’m really pleased that we managed to raise so much.”

Deborah Roberts, co-founder of Cancer Connections, said: “We’re so grateful for the continued support from Horsley Hill Boxing Club.

“This was a fantastic effort from them, not only to raise money for Cancer Connections, but also to spread the word around the world about the work we do. We can’t thank them enough.”

Cancer Connections was presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service last year. The accolade is the highest recognition a voluntary group can receive in the UK.