Highland Boxing Academy have raised almost £8000 by hiking Ben Nevis – with that number set to continue rising even further.
The Inverness boxing club are looking to raise funds to invest in a new minibus, after their last one burnt out at the side of the road earlier this year.
The Highland Boxing Academy (HBA) that made the trip to scale Ben Nevis to raise money for a new minibus. Picture: David RothnieHighland Boxing Academy athletes and coaches scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts. Picture: David RothnieHighland Boxing Academy athletes and coaches scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts. Picture: David Rothnie
As part of their efforts, they decided to scale the biggest mountain on the British Isles.
It was the first time the vast majority of athletes and coaches involved had climbed to the summit of Ben Nevis, and their efforts have been rewarded so far.
Highland Boxing Academy athletes and coaches scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts. Picture: David RothnieHighland Boxing Academy athletes and coaches scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts. Picture: David RothnieHighland Boxing Academy athletes and coaches scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts. Picture: David Rothnie
Through this event alone between a GoFundMe that is still active and individual sponsorships, £7800 has already been taken in with more sponsorships to be added to the total.
Highland Boxing Academy athletes and coaches scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts. Picture: David RothnieHighland Boxing Academy athletes and coaches scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts. Picture: David RothnieHighland Boxing Academy athletes and coaches scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts. Picture: David Rothnie
“In total 40 of us went, and 39 of us made it to the top and back,” Foy explained.
“Some of the boxers, Ewan Gliniecki and George Stewart, were up and back down inside three hours. Everyone that went had never done it before, so it was about giving all of them the opportunity as well. It was great.
Ewan Gliniecki and George Stewart were the quickest climbers as Highland Boxing Academy (HBA) scaled Ben Nevis, making it to the summit and back down inside three hours. Picture: David RothnieHighland Boxing Academy athletes and coaches scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts. Picture: David RothnieHighland Boxing Academy athletes and coaches scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts. Picture: David RothnieHighland Boxing Academy athletes and coaches scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts. Picture: David Rothnie
“I could go and buy a minibus just now, but the more money we get in towards it the better quality and age of vehicle we can get.
“My ultimate goal is to get close to £20,000, that would get us something decent that will be on the road for a while, but all options are open because we’re not in a position to ringfence the finances just now.
Highland Boxing Academy athletes and coaches scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts. Picture: David RothnieHighland Boxing Academy athletes and coaches scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts. Picture: David RothnieHighland Boxing Academy athletes and coaches scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts. Picture: David Rothnie
“We’ll see what we can bring in, and get the best minibus we can buy at that point, but I’m delighted with what we’ve got do far. It’s a massive contribution towards a new minibus.
“We’ll be doing more fundraising at our awards night on July 27 at the Ice Rink, where we’ll have a raffle and things like that.
Highland Boxing Academy athletes and coaches scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts.Highland Boxing Academy athletes scaled the tallest mountain on the British Isles, Ben Nevis, as part of fundraising efforts. Picture: David RothnieFor many it was their first time climbing Ben Nevis, doing so with HBA as part of fundraising efforts.
“At the end of the summer we’ll go out to Nairn beach again too. All the boxers get in sponsorship, and we put them through assault course-like activities, like racing up sand dunes, and we’ll have a barbecue afterwards.
“We’ll probably have another collection at a supermarket at some point too, and there are other members of the committee and club who are off doing their own things for fundraising – I know one has raised over £1000, so there’s loads of money to pull in from everywhere.
Professional champion Ben Bartlett was one of the Highland Boxing Academy athletes who made the trek up Ben Nevis. Picture: David RothnieAlmost £8000 has been raised so far, going towards a new Highland Boxing Academy minibus, with that number continuing to rise. Picture: David RothnieThey money raised from climbing Ben Nevis will go towards securing a new minibus to help Highland Boxing Academy (HBA) athletes get to competitions and back. Picture: David RothnieSmiles all around as athletes reached the summit of Ben Nevis as part of a fundraising effort from Highland Boxing Academy.
“It will be an ongoing thing throughout the summer holidays, and hopefully we can end up with a good figure.”
