Community rally to help burnt-out club
Boxing club’s plight
Hundreds of pounds have been raised to help a popular boxing club get back up and running after a fire destroyed their premises last week.
A Justgiving crowdfunding page was launched after a blaze ripped through Blantyre’s Miners Welfare Club, on Calder Street, last Monday morning.
Around 40 firefighters were called to the scene, along with eight fire engines and two aerial appliances.
Once the fire had been extinguished, the extent of the damage at the club was clear.
The building has been gutted, and there is extensive structural damage.
Blantyre Miners Amateur Boxing Club has trained countless champions and thousands of young boxers over the past 45 years.
Writing on her Justgiving page, the organiser of the appeal, Leanne Naismith, said: “Lots of children’s opportunities have been ruined.
“The boxing club has been around since 1971 and all of their equipment, along with many irreplaceable memories and items, have been lost.”
She continued:“john Mcdermott MBE was a Commonwealth gold medallist and has had this club up and running in the heart of Blantyre for many years, and is still passionate about the sport.
“The children and people of Blantyre want their club back up and running and representing the Blantyre community once again. Please help them to begin building the club back up.”
At the time of writing the Justgiving page had reached £700 of its £2500 target.
Go to www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/leannenaismith.