Boxing club to Ben summit in one round
Like so many sports across the country the activities of Lochaber Phoenix Boxing Club have been severely disrupted by Covid restrictions, shutting its gym and resulting in the cancellation of its Home Show, planned for April.
This event is not only the opportunity to showcase the incredible talents and abilities of Lochaber boxers against opponents from across Scotland, but also one of the club’s main sources of income.
Training has continued through social media contact with incredible dedication by members, aged nine upwards, to keep active and prepared for a return to more ‘normal’ times, although this has not helped the club bring in any cash.
A grant from the Scottish Government Resilience Fund and a fundraising ‘Name the Boxer’ scratch card have helped to meet some costs, but having just moved into a new gym as the lockdown hit, with considerable amounts spent on its conversion and new equipment, club funds are at an all-time low.
Last weekend boxer Emma Lauder took up this challenge stepping not into the ring but onto the Ben path starting from the club gym in Corpach, running to the summit of Ben Nevis and back again in a massive single round of 5 hours, 8 minutes and 56 seconds, all in a 20°C-plus heat with only a short break for food and water.
She said: ‘I set off from the club at about 6am to beat the crowds and I am glad I did. On the way up, there were only about 20 people, but coming down just a few hours later I must have passed over a thousand on their way up and that did slow me down as the path was crowded.’
Her solo efforts (although she was accompanied all the way by her dog, Alfie) raised £600, which was then doubled by Lochaber business, Leven Homes, for which her partner and boxing coach Aidan Donnelly works.
Sheri Murphy of Leven Homes Ltd said: ‘We really admire the club for what it has achieved and the great work it does. As a small business we know how hard things have been during lockdown and are really happy to support the club.’