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Belle Isle\u2019s Jamie Portrey is delighted to have raised a further \u00a35,000 for charity as he competed for the third and likely final time in a white-collar boxing event at Leeds Armouries organised by Ultra WCB and which makes his fundraising total over three events a staggering \u00a318,000.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t won any of these contests unfortunately, but my motivation has always been to benefit myself and others. It\u2019s nice to get a win but the whole ethos of Ultra WCB is accepting a personal challenge, seeing how you do and raising money for charities where a participant has a personal connection.\u201d<\/p>\n
Self-employed fencer and father of four Jamie, 48, described the eight-week training at Bad Company gym in Bramley as \u201chighly intense but highly beneficial although I\u2019m now starting to feel my age. Participants are a cross section and not everyone is young and fit. I played rugby union for many years and still play the odd veterans\u2019 game here and there. I\u2019m a stubborn man and don\u2019t back down once started. My opponent made me feel every shot but for me this has always been about the charity angle. The show at the Armouries was also twenty years to the day since I had a serious fall at work which could have killed me. Yet there I was in my vest and shorts boxing in front of approaching a thousand people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve worked closely with my chosen charities to ensure I fundraise in the most efficient way. I use fundraising packs including charity pots and buckets, sweepstake sheets and wrist bands. I\u2019ve done football cards among friends and family and organised a race night and a darts competition in local pubs. But the main thing is to ask as many local businesses as possible and all my friends to sponsor me and buy tickets for the boxing event.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy charities this time were Cancer Research UK and Andy\u2019s Man Club. Cancer Research UK in memory of a friend who lost his life to cancer and Andy\u2019s Man Club in recognition of the excellent work they do helping me and other men face adversity. After three bouts it\u2019s time to draw a line under my boxing but I\u2019ll be continuing with annual charity work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bad Company\u2019s Danny McKee cornered Jamie and others throughout the show. \u201cThe fights are amazing as those attending admire the grit, determination and courage on display as the boxers demonstrate how they\u2019ve progressed over the eight weeks of training in which a novice can learn as much as they\u2019re willing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jamie Portrey agrees. \u201cI relax pottering around in my garage making stuff and fixing things and L enjoy chilling on the sofa watching a film. However, I\u2019d recommend to anyone to take the Ultra WCB challenge. The training is brilliant for fitness and losing weight and you\u2019ll meet so fantastic people and make new friends for life. Give it a go.\u201d<\/p>\n
If wanting to box on the next Leeds Ultra WCB show on 21 November sign up at ultrawhitecollarboxing.co.uk\/signup<\/strong><\/a>. Participants must be 18 when the training starts at Bad Company in September.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This post was written by James Bovington<\/strong><\/p>\n We encourage anyone living or working in South Leeds to use this website to tell their news. You can either use the Create an article for South Leeds Life<\/strong><\/a> page, or email us at: info@southleedslife.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While you\u2019re here, can we ask a favour?<\/strong><\/p>\n South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise. We keep our costs as low as possible but we\u2019ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper which have doubled in the last two years.<\/p>\n Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation, or even better taking out a supporters subscription?<\/p>\n