Chris Penk to fight boxing bout fundraising for Helensville ‘local legend’s’ cancer treatment

Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk will swap suit and tie for boxing gloves as “The Penk Panther” in a bout to raise money for a constituent’s cancer treatment.

The Original Kaipara Tavern in Helensville is hosting the card on Easter Saturday (April 4), where the National MP will take on a local.

Publican Andy Cummings told the Herald the boxing event was a good way to raise money for volunteer firefighter Tony Cooper’s bowel cancer treatment, with $5 of each $40 ticket going to the cause.

Cummings approached Penk at the local A&P show in February with the offer.

Penk, the MP for the Kaipara ki Mahurangi electorate, said the event was a “great opportunity to help a committed local”.

National MP and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk will take part in a boxing match at the Original Kaipara Tavern. Photo / Supplied

Cummings said Cooper was a pillar in the Helensville community.

“From Cape Rēinga to the Bluff, all these small towns have got these local legends that do so much for the community and in Helensville, Tony Cooper’s ours.

“He’s driven the fire truck for 35 years, and he’s coached rugby, waka ama and tennis. But all that aside, he’s just a top bloke.”

His diagnosis had “rocked” the community, Cummings said.

Cooper’s Givealittle page said chemotherapy and costly therapy drugs, not fully covered by the public system, were required to treat his cancer.

Cooper told the Herald the support amid the hard time was “overwhelming” and that he planned to attend the event.

The minister will don the moniker of “The Penk Panther”, with the theme music from the Pink Panther film playing when he walks to the ring.

Penk said his training for the bout was best described as “sporadic”.

Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk is fighting in a boxing match in Helensville on April 4. Photo / RNZ, Nick Monro

“I’ve done a few runs when I’ve had time, but it’s also not easy to fit in a regular fitness schedule.

“I’m not convinced I’m on the path to any kind of professional boxing career off the back of this.”

The publican himself will fight too under the name Andy “Crusher” Cummings.

“That’s going to be tough for me because I’ve been on the Guinness and pizza diet for the last 14 months.”

Risks associated with charity boxing events

Last year, Coroner Heather McKenzie recommended tightening of rules and regulations surrounding corporate/charity boxing events after an inquest into the death of Kain Parsons in 2018.

Parsons died three days after taking part in a Christchurch charity boxing event, where he sustained 29 significant blows to the head in less than three minutes.

Penk said he was confident in the event’s safety, as adequate gear will be worn and the matches will be well refereed.

“I think [the] risks are mitigated well in this case, with safety equipment such as headgear and mouthguards, obviously boxing gloves as opposed to some sort of looser arrangement in terms of fighting, means that it’s going to be perfectly safe.

“Nothing in life is without risk, so I’m not planning to come to any physical harm, just as I’m not planning to get hit by a bus when I next cross the road.”