All Stars Rocks!
A chart topping indie band were the star turn at a charity fundraiser in support of a boxing club that helps kids from tough backgrounds stay out of gangs.
Razorlight performed at the cash strapped All Stars Boxing Gym and Youth Club, on Wednesday 8th June 2011.
The club trains more than 300 youths a week, charging just £1.50 for a two hour session but it faces closure unless it can stump up £100,000 in rent arrears before the lease runs out at the end of June.
John Borrell, frontman for the band, became a regular at All Stars’ non-contact boxing nights in 2005 whilst living in nearby Ladbroke Grove.
He was still a regular at the Monday night sessions when he found out about the club’s financial difficulties and was very eager to offer his support.
Mr Borrell said: “These places are very important not only for the local community but for London as a whole.
“In a boxing club it does not matter who you are you must give everybody respect and that is a lesson that you can take with you in the outside world.
“I am very grateful for that and so there was no question that we would come here and help out in whatever way we could.”
Isola Akay, who was awarded an MBE in 2000, founded the club in 1974 after a local gym turned his son away because of the colour of his skin.
He has already raised half the cash, through donations and fundraisers, and now hopes the publicity from last week’s concert will help him make the other £50,000.
He said: “I have been training Johnny for six years and in all that time I never knew he was a rock star!
“I just hope that his kind support will mean more people knowing about our club and what we are trying to do here.
“This is my life’s work, it keeps me young and as long as it is still here then I will keep coming seven days a week 52 weeks a year.”
Gym volunteer Dean Murphy said: “We would rather kids were in the gym boxing than on the streets causing trouble.
“It’s about getting them out of using knives and into using boxing gloves.
“Our gym is packed out every day so you dread to think about what all the kids would do if we ceased to exist.”
If you wish to donate to the All Stars Boxing Club please click here or call 020 8960 7724.
More pictures of our fantastic night will be on our website real soon, for more articles please click on the links below:
Award No. 10 for Mr A!
Mr. ISOLA AKAY, the All Stars Boxing Club Supremo collected his tenth Award at the Pro-Active London Awards for Sport & Physical Activity ceremony held at the City Hall, London, on Thursday 5th May 2011.
According to Mr Akay, "it is always an honour to be appreciated for my contribution to the community. I enjoy what I do and do pray to be carrying on doing it for many years to come".
This is how the Awards started coming in :-
1) 02/03/2000 - ACTIVE COMMUNITY AWARDS – LONDON
In recognition of outstanding contribution to the community.
Presented by Hon. Tony Blair, former Prime Minister2) 10/10/2000 - M.B.E.
For outstanding contribution to the community.
Presented by the Queen3) 05/08/2002 - TRUMPET NEWSPAPERS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
For outstanding contribution to the positive image of Africa and Africans in the United Kingdom through Sport.
Presented by Sierra Leone High Commissioner4) 07/11/2004 - LOCAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
For outstanding work in helping to improve the quality of life of fellow members of the local community.
Presented by Lord Mayor of Westminster, Catherine Longworth5) 26/11/2004 - ROTARY CLUB – PADDINGTON BRANCH
In appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.6) 2010 - BBC LONDON SPORTS AWARD
Unsung Hero 2010 for London.7) 07/11/2010 - BARCLAYS COMMUNITY SPORTS AWARD
For dedication to providing sports opportunities for the community.8) 24/11/2010 - NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK
For outstanding contribution to the community through sport.
Daytime K.O. Classes!
We are now running DAYTIME K.O. CIRCUIT CLASSES! This gives everyone even more opportunity to burn off all those mince pies you'll soon be eating and get super fit for 2011!
The classes run 3 times a week on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays from 12.30pm - 2pm and are priced at only £5 for members and £7.50 for non members...
If you live and work locally to the gym then there really is no better way to get fit, we hope to see as many of you there as possible
A Message from Mr Akay!
Hi,
I thought you’d like to know what’s going on here at the All Stars, as there’s quite a lot happening this year. You may have heard that we’re on a fundraising drive? We need your help with that and, if you can, in other ways too...
To get things underway we had a sponsored run at the Padington Rec athletics track on Sunday 25th April (between 10.30am and 12.30pm). Everyone who took part put in a huge amount of effort and managed to cover around 14 miles in the allocated two hours which was fantastic. Thanks to everyone who has sponsored the runners so far, everyones donations have been much appreciated. If you didn't manage to sponsor anyone at the time but would still like to donate some money to the cause, it's not too late! You can do so by clicking here
http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/donate/allstarsboxingyouth/
It’s worthwhile taking a look at the web site every now and then because we’ve got some big plans for further events and for renovations of the fabric of the club. If you’ve got some expertise in either of those areas – running events or in the building trade – and can spare some time, then we’d very much like to hear from you. We’re also in need of some help on the front desk, so if you fancy helping out in the evenings, just pop in and let us know.
The club itself is more popular than it has ever been, with the KO Circuit well attended and, more importantly, a great bunch of young amateurs coming through.
It would be great to see you soon.
Kind regards
Mr Akay
Isola Akay M.B.E.