A full-time coach has started a GoFundMe to raise money to expand Sheffield City Community Gym. 

Callum Beardow, 29, will complete the Oulton Marathon on November 24th to help the club secure a new venue for the home event. 

Beardow said, “We people from different communities, different backgrounds, we take everyone in. But we are forced to have 50 people a floor; some semi-detached houses are bigger than that.”

Beardow, known as the Vanilla Gorilla, had a 5-0 professional record before recently retiring from boxing due to injury. 

The gym is currently based out of Sharrow in Sheffield, and offers boxing coaching sessions for as little as £2.50, making it one of the cheapest and most accessible gyms in the country. 

The club itself was formed in 2010 and has since had five Yorkshire National finalists, three eventually becoming champions. A National Elite Championships bronze medallist at cruiserweight and a Yorkshire Novice Champion.

Beardown said: “Amateur clubs are the bread and butter of communities; it’s not a wealthy sport. People come in rough kids, and it teaches them a bit of discipline.

“The first day they come in head down, you struggle to get a word out of them. Next thing you know, you get a hello and a handshake; something like that goes a long way.”

In addition, the gym also works closely with several local schools, offering workshops to classes of all ages. 

You can click here to donate to his GoFundMe.

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