As he continues his fund-raising efforts to renovate Porthcawl & Pyle Pumas Amateur Boxing Club in memory of his later father Colin, Forwards Coach Jonathan Humphreys is calling on Ospreys fans to lend the club a helping hand.
Humphreys is heading a campaign to raise a total of £75,000 in order for the club to upgrade facilities at their base close to Porthcawl seafront.
Humphreys used to train at the gym as a youngster before pursuing a career in rugby, while his son Thomas and nephew Ben Ellis are current club members. He was first taken there by his father Colin, who was the youngest ever Amateur Boxing Association champion aged just 17, before becoming a professional boxer.
Humphreys senior passed away last year, but Jonathan is working hard, along with brother-in-law Edward Ellis, to raise sufficient revenue to give the club a much needed makeover.
“My dad first took me there as a boy. He loved it there, it’s where he felt at home. Nothing has changed there in all these years, it’s in a state of total disrepair and needs a complete refurbishment. Loads of people use it, but it could be an even bigger asset for the local community.
“We’ve already raised a good sum of money, but it’s not just about the refurbishment, we also need equipment to kit the place out. If we can reach the total needed, it would be a gym that my father would be proud of.”
As part of the fund-raising efforts, Porthcawl & Pyle Pumas have submitted an entry into the NatWest Community Force competition, where members of the public can vote for the community cause they feel is deserving of a £6,000 grant.
“We have come a along way but this grant would give us a fantastic boost. It would be brilliant if Ospreys fans could give their backing to a local club working in their community. Any support you can give the club will be greatly appreciated.”
To place your vote, please follow these instructions:
You will initially have to register to vote by going to www.natwest.com/communityforce
(You may need to copy & paste this link)
You will receive a verification e-mail allowing you to log into the above site using the password that you have just created.
Once logged in go to the following link: http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/2173 and place a vote
Voting is open until Sunday 23rd October, so please get your vote in now to help Humph!