Member Article

Boro Crane Driver Helps Karate Kids Reach Championships

A crane driver at Teesside logistics business, AV Dawson has rallied together funds for a local martial arts club, which is now sending a team of young stars to represent the country at the kickboxing world championships.

Brian Davies, a crane operator at AV Dawson and grandfather to two of Max Training Martial Arts Club’s junior members, contacted his employer about the club’s recent fundraising drive.

Brian said:

“My boss helped me get the club’s application for charity funding in front of Middlesbrough & Teesside Philanthropic Foundation, which AV Dawson is a patron of. They focus on supporting community groups in the area and have been able to provide the funds the club needed to buy some new equipment to support the local kids.”

The £1,000 donation has come along at the perfect time as the club is now investing in extra sparring equipment and training to support six budding kickboxers, including Brian’s granddaughter Saran Hill, who will be representing their country later in the year.

Last year, Saran, who was seven at the time, became the youngest black belt at the gym and possibly in the country. She has recently won the British championships in Manchester in her age group for point sparring which makes her eligible to go to Portugal to fight for her country in the World Championships.

The World Championships, which take place in October, are run by the World Karate & Kickboxing Commission (WKC), which is the governing body dedicated to promoting martial arts excellence and world class competition.

Brian, who lives in Linthorpe in Middlesbrough and has worked at AV Dawson for over 20 years said:

“It’s really important that our kids and grandkids are encouraged, inspired and given these opportunities through community sports clubs like Max Training. I’m excited to see how the team does in Portugal. It takes so much hard work and dedication to achieve what Saran has achieved up to now. Needless to say, I’m so proud of her.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by AV Dawson .