Chance to get in the ring and aid fight over cancer
BUSINESSMAN SETS UP EVENT FOR CHARITY AT TOWN’S MARKET HALL
LOCKDOWN has dealt a devastating blow to the event sector, as Derbyshire businessman Jon Leonard knows only too well.
His income shrank to zero last year as the pandemic forced people to mostly stay at home.
But with lockdown being eased, his Ultra Events brand, which gives novices the chance to compete in a showcase event in front of hundreds of spectators, is starting to become active again.
This will mean that people in Burton are being given the opportunity to participate in one of Mr Leonard’s White Collar Boxing events, which is coming to the Market Hall on July 17.
Participants will be given eight weeks of free training, starting from May 24. In return, they are asked to raise a minimum of £50 for Cancer Research UK and sell tickets for their event.
Through Mr Leonard, 40, Derbybased Ultra Events has raised around £22 million for the charity. He said: “The idea first hit me while I was standing on the stage to help warm up the runners at a Race for Life in my hometown of Derby.
“A cancer surgeon came on and he asked all the women taking part to shake hands with the person to the left and right of them then said statistically, one in three of you will get cancer.
“That figure has now risen to one in two people. It was back then that I made the decision that I had to play my part in fighting this terrible disease.”
The event is open to anyone aged 18 and over.
Reflecting on what has been a very tough year for his business and its associated fundrasing, Mr Leonard said:
“Our efforts to raise money for this important charity to carry out its vital work have been hit very hard.
“All our fundraising efforts are down to the incredible people who take part and put in eight weeks of hard work to achieve their goal.
“I would say to anyone in Burton thinking of taking part to give it a go - it is an excellent opportunity to take up a new challenge after the end of lockdown. Everyone is welcome. The bonds which are formed amongst our competitors are incredible, with many people who would never have met in everyday life forming lifelong friendships.”
Director of fundraising at Cancer Research UK Simon Ledsham said: “The success of Ultra Events and the £22 million raised so far is phenomenal. We are so grateful to the organisers behind each event, every person that signs up to take part and the generosity of their friends and family who sponsor them. “Together, they are helping to fund our pioneering research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
“The truth is, Covid-19 has slowed us down. But we will never stop and we are absolutely determined to continue to create better cancer treatments for tomorrow.
“We remain reliant on the generosity of the public to fund our life-saving work and we’re eagerly anticipating the return of fundraising events with all necessary Covid-19 guidelines in place.
“Thanks to research funded by supporters, who take part in activities like an Ultra Event, today two in four people survive cancer – and our ambition is to accelerate progress so that within the next 20 years, this figure will reach three in four and enable more families to stay together for longer.”