Packing a punch for Roddensvale school

Boxers from Larne’s Champion Sports Academy have raised a knock-out £4360 for Roddensvale Special School at a charity event.
Members of the Champions Kick Boxing Club, Larne, John Clarke, Wilson Snoddy and Lynsey Baxter present a cheque for £4360 to Mr John Madden, principal of Roddensvale School and students, Karl and Stephen, the money was raised by members competing in a white collar boxing event. INLT 19-001-PSBMembers of the Champions Kick Boxing Club, Larne, John Clarke, Wilson Snoddy and Lynsey Baxter present a cheque for £4360 to Mr John Madden, principal of Roddensvale School and students, Karl and Stephen, the money was raised by members competing in a white collar boxing event. INLT 19-001-PSB
Members of the Champions Kick Boxing Club, Larne, John Clarke, Wilson Snoddy and Lynsey Baxter present a cheque for £4360 to Mr John Madden, principal of Roddensvale School and students, Karl and Stephen, the money was raised by members competing in a white collar boxing event. INLT 19-001-PSB

The White Collar Boxing and Junior Kickboxing fundraiser, which featured 20 boxers and a crowd of 500 spectators, took place at Larne Leisure Centre on Friday March 27.

The event was organised by Champion Sports Academy’s Owner/Instructors Wilson Snoddy and Robert Cassells.

Wilson told The Times: “We have been doing annual charity fundraisers for four or five years. This is the first time we did it for Roddensvale and we raised the highest amount to date.”

Boxers Lindsey Baxter and John Clarke, who took part in the event, told of the gruelling preparatory regime which saw them train four nights a week for eight weeks for their respective bouts.

Roddensvlae pupils Stephen and Karl represented the school on the night, and were given signed photos as a souvenir of the evening.

In addition to the money raised, Champion Sports Academy also donated a shield to the school which will be awarded on prize day for excellence in sport.

“Instead of just giving them money, it gives them a goal to aim towards,” said Wilson.

Principal of Roddensvale Special School John Madden commented: “We are totally floored by the total raised, £4360. A massive thank you to all involved who helped raise this amazing amount of money for us.

“We are very fortunate to have individuals like Mr. Snoddy who approach the school and offer to raise money on behalf of Roddensvale pupils.

“Champions Sports Academy is a remarkable organization and the fact that they are prepared to organize and run events of this scale is incredible.”

Champion Sports Academy representatives were given a tour of Roddensvale Special School, during which Mr Madden explained how money raised for pupils was used.

Additional funds that come to the school are lodged in the school gift account and used to benefit all the pupils.

“The gift account offers the children the extra things that we cannot often afford from our educational budget,” Mr Madden revealed.

“The extra ‘treats’ of educational trips and meals out, musical or drama workshops which are bought into school together with specialist training for staff, additional educational resources and much more are all financed by the generosity of the extended Roddensvale community and we are extremely grateful.

“We hope that this will be the start of a long running association and we aspire to get pupils down to the gym in Larne where we have kindly been invited by Mr Snoddy and the club.”

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