Talented trio hope local sponsorship will kick start fund raising effort.
Three young kickboxers from Milton Keynes, who have qualified to represent Team England in Australia this autumn, have issued an appeal for funding to help get to the other side of the world.
Zoe Gray, 16, from Middleton, Yas Jerome, 14, from Bletchley, and Benjamin Jackson, 13, from Wavendon Gate, all train at Banks Kickboxing and Boxing in Bletchley. They secured their places on the national team after beating tough competition from across the UK.
But, unlike many youth sports, kickboxing receives no government or official funding – meaning all costs must be covered by the athletes and their families.
The trio have calculated that they’ll need about £17,000 to cover flights, accommodation, competition fees, and essential kit for October's Brisbane international tournament.
And they have launched a fundraising campaign and are appealing to local individuals and businesses for donations or sponsorship to enable them to fulfil their Aussie dream.
“We’re so excited to have this opportunity, but without support, it’s simply out of our reach,” said Zoe, who attends Moulton College. “We’ve worked so hard to get to this point, and we really hope the MK community will support us.”
All three athletes have an impressive track record that they’re hoping to emulate in Australia. Yas and Ben competed in the ISKA European Kickboxing Championships in Malta this summer, with Yas winning two gold medals, while Zoe and Ben took away gold at the recent ISKA British Championships.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Zoe, Yas, and Ben to compete at the highest level,” said senior coach Thomas Banks. “They train relentlessly, coach others, and are fantastic role models for the hundreds of members at our gym. We’d be incredibly grateful for any support from the local community.”
Anyone interested in supporting Zoe, Yas and Ben’s cause can contact: info@banksmartialarts.co.uk or call 01908 870575. The club has also set up a Go Fund Me page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-get-banks-to-brisbane.
