Kickboxers from Popley received welcome cash support from retail giant Tesco.
The Chineham shopping centre store handed CMA Kickboxing a £225 cheque as part of its community champion scheme.
The store’s current champion Julie Shepherd, from Old Basing, said the kickboxing club donation was a no-brainer.
She said: “When I went down there I saw a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
“It really hit me how the instructors are trying to provide as many opportunities for the kids and really trying to keep costs down.”
The club runs out Popley Fields Community Centre on Carpenters Down on Monday and Wednesday evenings, and holds regular fight nights. It teaches up to 22 youngsters. It was founded in 1995.
Club owner, Peter Cannings, said: “It is fantastic to see support come in from Tesco. We wrote a few letters to organisations and they were the only ones to respond.
“We do not run it for profit.
“We do it to help keep our kids off the streets and keep them busy. It’s an important thing for the community.”
For more information on community champion funding or to make an application, contact Julie Shepherd on 07514 408482.
Picture by Isabel Gregory
