AN AMATEUR boxing club (ABC) in Ebbw Vale stepped into the ring with a local housing developer and came out with £3,000 prize money.
Heads of the Valley ABC was successful in its bid for Persimmon Homes’ Community Champions initiative, which donates several thousand pounds across Wales each year.
The boxing club has been running for over 30 years, now under the stewardship of Mel Hamer who continues to train new generations of fighters.
The club is around the corner from Persimmon’s Carn y Cefn development which will bring over 250 much-needed homes on the site of the former Ebbw Vale Comprehensive School and College site.
As well as bringing much-needed new homes to Blaenau Gwent, the development will create more than 200 jobs over the five-year construction period, as well as boosting the local economy by £7m per annum.
Commenting, Persimmon Homes East Wales’ sales director, Victoria Williams, said:
“Community Champions is all about rewarding individuals and organisations for their service to their local communities and investing in the future of those areas – and the volunteers at Heads of the Valleys ABC are the definition of community champions.
“Our nearby Carn y Cefn development is providing houses for current and future generations in Ebbw Vale and we are delighted that Persimmon can support an organisation to continue offering local children lessons in boxing, including those who will one day occupy those homes.”
Mel Hamer of Heads of the Valley ABC added:
“We are very grateful for Persimmon’s support and this money will be well invested in some new equipment for the children here.
“The club is hoping to soon move into new premises and getting some new gloves and head-guards will certainly help draw more young people in.
“It is an absolute pleasure giving young people in this area a skill and a passion, and we couldn’t do that without our brilliant volunteers, so it is fantastic that this donation from Persimmon will help us carry on with that work.”
