Barn boxers are a knockout after raising £1000 for little AJ

May 22 2008 Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

MEMBERS of a Coatbridge boxing club showed they packed a punch when it came to helping a local youngster.

Regulars at Barn ABC held a sponsored run to back little AJ Gilmour (5) who suffers from Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy, a rare muscle-wasting disease.

They raised £1000 to help send the brave St Patrick’s pupil to Florida next year to swim with dolphins.

Barn chief coach Rab Bannan paid tribute to club member Maurice – Mo – O’Connor, who raised most of the cash, and their main sponsor Derek – Deek – Hill of Select Blinds.

He said: “We were more than delighted to support AJ and the boys did what they could. A big well done must go to Mo who went round and raised most of the money and Deek for all his help, too.”

The Coatbridge public’s support of AJ has taken the fund to over £7000.

AJ’s mum Clare Crilly said: “I am very grateful to the boxing club and everyone else for their incredible generosity.”