Belle Isle’s Jamie Portrey is delighted to have raised a further £5,000 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 £18,000.
“I haven’t won any of these contests unfortunately, but my motivation has always been to benefit myself and others. It’s 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.”
Self-employed fencer and father of four Jamie, 48, described the eight-week training at Bad Company gym in Bramley as “highly intense but highly beneficial although I’m 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’ game here and there. I’m a stubborn man and don’t 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.”
“I’ve 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’ve 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.”
“My charities this time were Cancer Research UK and Andy’s Man Club. Cancer Research UK in memory of a friend who lost his life to cancer and Andy’s Man Club in recognition of the excellent work they do helping me and other men face adversity. After three bouts it’s time to draw a line under my boxing but I’ll be continuing with annual charity work.”