Telford cage fighter forced to put charity bout on hold

A cage fighter from Telford who hoped to help a disabled girl by raising money through a title bout has had to postpone the fundraiser until March.

Kind-hearted Lee Stevens, from Malinslee, Telford, was due to defend his semi-pro welterweight title on December 10 with part of the money from ticket sales going to help Rosie Turner, aged 12, buy an all-terrain wheelchair.

However the fundraising to help Rosie continues tomorrow night at a Telford supermarket after the community pulled together to put on a Christmas fair.

Charity fundraiser Julie Duhra and volunteers to put on the fun-filled Christmas fair at Asda in Donnington.

Julie, who runs Jules Convenience store, in Hadley, Telford, wants to raise money to help Rosie, who has cerebral palsy and Dandy-Walker Syndrome.

Rosie loves going to the seaside but needs a new £4,000 wheelchair so that she can not only go on the beach but also into the sea.

Julie has lined up the fair and fundraising bag-packing event tomorrow from 6.30pm until 9.30pm.

Telford & Wrekin Council leader Councillor Kuldip Sahota will officially open the fair which will include a steel band, raffles, stalls and cakes stalls.

Six men will raise money by having their legs waxed, plus there will be a Zumba session at 8pm and fundraising bag packing throughout the night.

Mrs Duhra said they hope to hit the £4,000 target by next March when Rosie celebrates her 13th birthday.

Mr Stevens' title fight, dubbed Night of the Gladiators, will now see him take on Darren Rushworth at Stoke-on-Trent's Victoria Hall in March.

The exact date is yet to be confirmed.

Tickets cost £25 and £10 from each ticket sale will go towards Rosie's new Hippocampe all-terrain wheelchair.

Lee, 25, who is also a champion kickboxer and cage fights as a hobby, said: "I heard Rosie was having a few problems with her wheelchair so we are trying to raise the money."