Charitable fitness instructor nominated for Best of South Tyneside Award

A fitness instructor who has shifted millions of kilograms for charity has been nominated for a Best of South Tyneside Award.
Ant Clennan has been nomined or a Best of South Tyneside Award.Ant Clennan has been nomined or a Best of South Tyneside Award.
Ant Clennan has been nomined or a Best of South Tyneside Award.

Ant Clennan, who runs South Tyneside Kettlebells, has been nominated for Fundraiser of the Year in this year’s annual awards.

He was nominated for the award by fellow fundraiser Colin Burgin-Plews, known as the Big Pink Dress, who raises funds for Breast Cancer Now.

Ant Clennan has been nomined or a Best of South Tyneside Award.Ant Clennan has been nomined or a Best of South Tyneside Award.
Ant Clennan has been nomined or a Best of South Tyneside Award.
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Colin put the father-of-two forward for an award for the way he takes on fitness challenges to raise funds for the Children’s Heart Unit (CHUF) at the Freeman Hospital and the Great North Children’s Hospital.

In his nomination Colin said: “Ant has gone out of his way to help others in his gym including an incredible charity fundraiser lifting one million kilograms of weight in the name of Lisa Kelly, a school teacher who sadly died, in aid of the Great North Children’s Hospital.

“He is a truly amazing person and role model and is one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met.”

Ant who started fundraising three years ago, has taken on three major kettlebell challenges to raise funds. 
Last year he shifted 40,060kg in an hour.

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Now he is on a mission to shift one million kilos of weights in a series of kettlebells sessions.

Ant, from Hebburn, said it was so nice to be recognised for what he does.

He said: “Its really nice to be nominated. I don’t do it for the recognition, but it is so nice to hear feedback.

“Over the last thee years since I started fundraising I have raised around £8,000 and from my latest challenge I hope to raise £5,000.”

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This year The Best of South Tyneside awards have a headline sponsor of Siemens, and are being held in association with Northumbrian Water, JML, Port of Tyne, Barbour, Harlow Print and the Customs House as category sponsors.

We have a great range of categories for you in this year’s Best of South Tyneside Awards.

It means you can put forward your favourites in everything from role model of the year through to sporting excellence.

Feel free to send in as many entries as you like for as many categories as you like.

Ant Clennan has been nomined or a Best of South Tyneside Award.Ant Clennan has been nomined or a Best of South Tyneside Award.
Ant Clennan has been nomined or a Best of South Tyneside Award.
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The more you send, the more choices our judges will have when it comes to drawing up a shortlist – and the harder their task will be to choose winners in each section.

The awards cover a range of categories and look to honour unsung stars from across the community at an awards night the Quality Hotel in Boldon on September 21.

The finals evening also feature the ever-popular Young Performer category, which is sponsored by Port of Tyne.

To nominate, send your entries by email to: [email protected] or post to: Lynn Wild, Alexander House, Second Floor, Rainton Bridge Business Park, Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, DH4 5RA.

And make sure your email include the category for the nomination along with the contact details for the person you are nominating, such as their telephone number, email and address.