A Manchester boxing legend's grandson is following in his footsteps, but with a modern twist. Dale Arrowsmith, 31, is set to run the Manchester Marathon in April, not just for the thrill of it, but to raise funds for a beloved boxing gym in need of financial support. This isn't your typical marathon runner story, as Dale is doing it to honor his grandfather, the legendary Roy Richardson, who was a boxer himself. The gym, named after Roy, is struggling with rising running costs and the need for new equipment. It's a non-profit organization, relying on the dedication of volunteers who train a diverse group of members aged 11 to 40. Dale shares his motivation, "We do it for nothing, just for the love of helping the kids really. We survive on whatever the kids give us, which is around £3 per session and fundraising. It's difficult, it's very difficult. Equipment costs have gone up, everything has skyrocketed. My grandad ran the Manchester Marathon back in the 80s, when he was 50-years-old. He ran it for the club and I thought it would be fitting to do the same."
Roy Richardson, born in Ancoats in 1933, got into boxing in the 1950s by fighting punters for money in the carnival boxing booths of Longford Park in Chorlton. At 21, he was called up for national service and joined the Royal Engineers. After being discharged, he married his wife Pat and moved to New Zealand, where he began training young fighters at a local club. When Roy and Pat returned to the UK, he started training at the former Bredbury Steelworks gym in Stockport in the early 1970s. The club, now based in Compstall, was renamed the Roy Richardson Boxing Academy in his honor in 2018. In 2021, Roy passed away at 88 after a battle with Alzheimer's, leaving Dale in charge of the operations. Dale's marathon fundraiser can be found here. But here's where it gets controversial... Is it really necessary to run a marathon to support a boxing gym? Or is there a more effective way to raise funds? And this is the part most people miss... Dale's story highlights the challenges faced by non-profit organizations, especially in the sports sector, where volunteers' efforts often go unnoticed. It's a reminder that behind every successful athlete, there's often a dedicated team of volunteers working tirelessly to support their endeavors. So, what do you think? Do you agree or disagree with Dale's approach? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
