Staffordshire boxing sensation Nathan ‘Hitman’ Heaney is pulling no punches when it comes to supporting JCB’s £2 million appeal for the NSPCC – with a donation of a prized pair of his gloves.
Stoke-on-Trent born Nathan took time out from his preparations for his World Boxing Association’s Continental Europe Middleweight Championship title bid in Manchester next month to hand over the gloves for auction.
The donation was arranged by Stoke-on-Trent based JCB supplier Rayne Precision Engineering through its insurance brokers and Nathan’s sponsors, Newcastle-under-Lyme based AMB Insurance Services.
Rayne Precision Engineering Managing Director Andrew Simmill is spearheading his own fundraising drive to support the JCB NSPCC appeal, which has so far raised more than £2,000 – including a £500 donation from AMB Insurance Services.
The £2 million JCB NSPCC Appeal is set to culminate in 2025 in JCB’s 80th anniversary year with all proceeds helping the charity’s work in North Staffordshire.
Father-of-two Nathan, 35, said today: “I’m delighted to support the JCB NSPCC Appeal with this donation because it will help the charity’s work in the city that I know and love and where so much of my support comes from. It’s a sad fact that in our community there are children who are at risk and I applaud anything that is being done which can make them safer.”
Nathan is also an ardent Stoke City fan and the plan is to auction the gloves at the Potters’ home game against Oxford United at the weekend – a game sponsored by Rayne Precision Engineering to throw the spotlight on the JCB NSPCC Appeal.
Andrew Simmill said: “I’m very grateful to Nathan for giving his support to this cause. Nathan is a true local hero and when our community pulls together, we are a force to be reckoned with. We all want to help the NSPCC make a real difference to the lives of local children.”
Nathan will enter the ring at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on February 8th to take on the current French champion Sofiane Khati. He has just single handedly delivered more than 1,500 tickets for the bout to the home addresses of his loyal North Staffordshire fans.
