Boxing event packs a punch

CHARITY: Carla Vaetoe and Jewels Tipene, organisers of the MTB Tauranga Charity Boxing Event. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A whopping $5000 donation has been made to the Tauranga Community Foodbank by the organisers of a charity boxing event.

Carla Vaetoe, Jewels Tipene and Whare Tipene, organisers of the MTB Tauranga Charity Boxing Event, this week donated $5000 of the proceeds from the November 7 event to the foodbank.

Ms Vaetoe said she and the Tipenes thought the foodbank was an ideal charity to donate to at this time of year as the funds would go towards getting people food for Christmas.

"There are so many people homeless or living below the breadline," Ms Vaetoe said.

"These people put a lot of time and effort into feeding people. It was really the least we could do."

Ms Vaetoe said being able to give that much money to a worthy cause was "a great feeling".

The event on November 7 was the fifth of its kind. First-time boxers sign up for a gruelling training regime before hitting the ring in one of about 16 bouts throughout the night.

The boxers all attend a boot camp then train for 11 weeks in the boxing gym Mr Tipene created in his garage especially for the event.

"We've put through just over 150 boxers from these events.

"None of them had any background in boxing until this. Whare fought in the first event, Jewels in the second and I fought in the third one. A lot of our boxers have kept on boxing. We're a pretty tight group, the boxers come back and help at the event by doing security or as water boys, they help in many ways."

The event raises money through selling tables, general admission tickets and getting businesses to sponsor particular bouts. The sponsors have their business name displayed on the screen during the bout and are printed on the programme.

The event always donates money to Kids Love Kai and Wish For Fish, and also chooses a different charity each event to donate to.

Tauranga Community Foodbank manager Nicki Goodwin said the $5000 from the boxing event was a huge amount, helped by how easy the organisers made the donation.

Mrs Goodwin said the Christmas appeal was "going fabulously" so far and businesses and individuals had already got into the spirit of things.

"A lot of businesses have got in touch about setting up their own donations. Quite a few people have contacted the foodbank Facebook page as well, which is great because they can reach us after hours."

A gentleman who regularly donated to the foodbank yesterday requested its Christmas wish list and went to the supermarket to buy what was at least $200 worth of the items on the list.

"He does that twice a year. We just love him," Mrs Goodwin said.

Baking supplies were great for families to make yummy treats and Mrs Goodwin said donations of items such as cocoa or baking powder went a long way as they would be divided into smaller amounts and distributed to numerous families.

If anyone is interested in getting in the ring or looking to sponsor a bout (starts from $300) at the charity boxing event, contact Carla Vaetoe on 021 240 0026.