South & West Wales - De a Gorllewin Cymru

Kicking cancer out; kickboxers raise funds for Cancer Research Wales.

Cancer Research Wales has had a £850 boost to its coffers as local man Mark Blackler (47) from Morriston in Swansea handed over donation to the cause.

Mark, who works for First Cymru and who is a keen kickboxer, organised a Pro-Title kickboxing fight at the Manor Park Country House in Swansea earlier this year to raise money for Cancer Research Wales; the charity that funds pioneering research into the causes of cancer. Involving fighters from the Spatz Freestyle Karate and Kickboxing Club in Swansea, of which Mark is a member, and 10 other fighters from around the UK, the event attracted more than 200 spectators.

Incorporating a raffle and auction, which offered people the chance to win boxing gloves signed by Joe Calzaghe and Enzo Macarenelli and a signed Swansea City football shirt, the evening raised £425 for the charity. This amount was subsequently match funded by FirstGroup, the parent company of First Cymru, who Mark works for as a management accountant.

Mark Blackler says: "The kickboxing event was tremendously successful and I'm pleased we managed to raise a decent sum of money for the charity. Like many others, I have known people who have been affected by cancer so I wanted to do what I could to help Cancer Research Wales find a cure for it. I worked with two friends, Paul 'Gus' Gilbert, a world champion kickboxer, and Carl Romano, to set the event up and we're all pleased with how it came off.

"I'm delighted that the FirstGroup Charity and Sponsorship Committee agreed to match fund what we raised on the night; this means a lot to me, and will mean that the charity is able to do even more to help people with cancer."

Elizabeth Andrews, Deputy Charity Director, Cancer Research Wales, said: "We would like to thank Mark, Gus and Carl, along with First Cymru and FirstGroup for their fantastic support. As an organisation we rely totally on the generosity of people and organisations to help us raise the £2 million we need each year to fund our work in Wales."