THE gloves are on.

One of York’s most unusual sporting contests is about to go up, up and uppercut away in a push to raise a knockout amount for the city’s most vulnerable young.

“The Night of Alfie’s Legions” is scheduled to take place at the York Railway Institute in Queen Street on Saturday, February 7, when 20 martial arts exponents and enthusiasts will step through the ropes into the boxing ring.

The event has been organised by Dave Phillips, co-founder of the Legions Thai-boxing gym in Fifth Avenue, and Dean McQuade, and the idea is to raise cash for York Hospital’s special baby care unit.

Both men’s lives have been touched by the unit with Phillips’ twins treated there and McQuade’s son Alfie, who received the utmost care before his death two days after he was born just 26 weeks into pregnancy. Alfie weighed just 2lbs and 2oz.

Both Phillips and McQuade wanted to give something back to the unit at York Hospital and came upon the idea of the night of charity combat after fastening on the banter in the Legions gym between various competitors and friends.

Said Phillips: “There’s always a healthy rivalry in the gym among the fighters and some of their mates who reckon they could do better, so we have matched them in boxing bouts.

“They have all been matched so the bouts will be as even as possible. The lads will fight in 16oz gloves over three two-minute rounds and they will be wearing head-guards.”

Phillips added that there will also be the customary safety measures, including a doctor and paramedics at the scene, as if for any of the previous martial arts programmes he has helped to stage.

Both Phillips and McQuade revealed that last year a raft of events helped to raise £34,000 for the special baby care unit. Their plan was to get as close to half that amount from their one-off February 7 series of showdowns.

Added McQuade: “The response we have had has been fantastic.

“All the tickets have been sold out – we could have sold the same amount again – and loads of York businesses and firms have rallied round to provide prizes and various other ways of support.

“This is all about the baby car unit and when we have approached people they have all supported it.”

But while they have been floored by the “brilliant” reaction to the event, Phillips and McQuade would welcome further help or pledges of support so they can maximise the “Night of Alfie’s Legions”.

Any one who can help can contact the info@legions.co.uk website.

• Sponsors who have contributed to the big night include: Action Printers, Tyre Giant, Contech UK, Say Scaffolding, Big Baps n Tings, The Toolbox, Peachy Cleaning Services, True Colour Tattoo, Thaiboxingstore, JG Trade Window, Strawberries and Cream, Judge Electrical, The Priory, Y3 Hire and Rental, Aladdin’s Cave, Webuymotorbikes.com, Crystal Clean Windows, Legions Gym, HP Plumbing & Heating, Big Cat Clothing, Task Security.

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