A former boxer from Consett who was stabbed 14 times when he was younger is offering a free week of training to any young person who hands in an offensive weapon.
Andrew Connor, who was attacked in Stanley around 11 years ago, is opening a gym in Leadgate. He is hoping to get weapons off the streets and encourage young people to take up boxing, which we wanted to publicise as part of our ongoing Stop Knives Taking Lives campaign at ChronicleLive.
The 41-year-old said: “I have not only been through it, but I have seen it. Looking at the news a couple of weeks ago, a 12-year-old was stabbed to death in Birmingham by a 14-year-old. What is the world coming to? I decided that I need to do something about it. I am just hoping if I do it, other people might reflect on it and do something themselves.”
Andrew, who had brain surgery a few months ago because his brain prolapsed, said he wants to give young people an opportunity, and to hopefully try to stop them going down the wrong path.
He said: “If I can open the door and anyone brings any offensive weapon, that is two people’s lives that can be saved. What is to say that those two young lads, who might be in a bad situation, could not grow up to be surgeons or doctors? They could save lives themselves, so I want to give them an opportunity.
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“If there is any young person that comes into my gym, they hand an offensive weapon in, anonymously, I take that to the police station that evening, hand it in myself, they will sign a form with me, and then I will offer them a free weeks training.”
Andrew also added that he is not afraid of approaching a group of young people and asking if they have knives any type of offensive weapon on them. He said: “If I have got to walk up to a group of young people standing on a corner and say, ‘right, if any of you are carrying knives, if you give them to me now, I will hand them in at the police station and see you in the gym on Monday’.”
Andrew explained that offering the free week’s boxing training is all about channelling the energy that the young people may have into a professional manner, and that it is about controlling emotions. He said: “Boxing brings discipline, I have been boxing for 20 years. I have won a world title, I was on Sky Sports for five years, and everything I did then I gave to charity as well.
(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
“But, I think that young people need to feel part of a group that does not involve going to prison. You can still release anger and be part of a team, but no one is getting hurt or killed. If they are getting hurt, it is in a professional manner.”
ChronicleLive launched its Stop Knives Taking lives campaign after three young people lost their lives to knife violence in a matter of months. Through telling the stories of those who have ruined lives by carrying knives we hope to raise awareness of the devastation using weapons can cause.
Andrew is also offering free classes to any young children with special educational needs (SEN). Andrew said he has a six-year-old son who has autism, is non-verbal and has no social awareness.
He said: “I know when my son needs to release that energy. SEN children have so much strength, but there is nowhere around here for them. So I am going to offer free sessions for any SEN children.
“If I can offer that kind of facility and that kind of opportunity for other SEN children to bring their children along, it makes it easier at home and those children are not as unhappy because they feel better letting everything out.”
But the gym that Andrew is planning to open is only halfway to being completed. He explained: “I am struggling with the funding side. I put everything I own into opening this gym, but I have ran out of money. We need sponsorships, we need funding. I am halfway to opening the gym, but have no money. I have put all savings into opening the space and do not want to fail here.”
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/consett-man-opening-gym-knives-30956772
