All skill levels welcome in Fight For Life fundraiser

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Do you have what it takes to step into the ring in front of a capacity crowd?

Registrations are being taken for the 2021 Fight for Life Gisborne — a fundraiser for the Patu Tahi Boxing Club.

Aspiring boxers will have 14 weeks to train for the December event and will be coached by the staff at Patu Tahi.

Head coach Kim Maree-Larby will lead the red and blue teams, with support from her coaching staff and senior boxers, for two weeks of fitness before a 12-week course on technique.

All skill levels are welcome to register, from those who have never stepped in a gym in their life to experienced boxers.

Event manager Kylie Kahukiwa said she managed the Fight for Life Facebook page, and saw how much interest there was from the public.

“Registration opened at 9am on Monday and we've already got a lot (40 as of yesterday morning).”

Tthe club had grown significantly and required significant fundraising events to help pay for travel expenses to compete.

Registrations are open to Tuesday, August 24.

A trial night will be held later this month to gauge skill and fitness levels for the fighters' safety, and to help set up evenly-matched fights.

The event is not associated with Fight For Life Ed, which raised funds for the Life Education trust, and has not been held since 2018.

Life Education Trust national chairwomen Pat Seymour said there was no confusion about the similar names of the event and wished Patu Tahi “all the best for what was a successful event in Gisborne”.