Redcar Amateur Boxing Club founder and Coach Frankie Wales organised a two-week trip for 23 boxers and officials to Perth, in Western Australia.

While there, the young sportsmen boxed in front of a 1,000-strong audience as well as taking part in life-changing activities including, swimming with dolphins.

Mr Wales, who founded the club, based at Coatham Memorial Hall, said he was determined to show the youngsters that there was more to life than the culture they were used to and this is what he had to say: -

·       Around the area we are from it is very much a culture of drink and drugs, I wanted to take these kids away and show them what it is like in other countries - it is not about drinking - it is about sport.

·       A couple of the lads had never even been beyond Newcastle before so it was a life-changing experience for them.

·       I wanted to show them a different culture so that when they are sitting in a pub ten years from now they can look back and say they have done something.

The boxers, aged between 11 and 23, all raised £1,000 each for the trip which took place on 22 October 2007.

A number of fundraising activities took place and one in particular was when eight hardy members of Redcar and Cleveland Council's refuse and recycling team dipped in the sea to raise £707 for the trip.  The council staff helped the drive after themselves being involved with the club's weekly training sessions.

Waste services supervisor Marty Williams took the plunge along with Maggie Williams, Steve Puckrin, Trev Maguire, Ian Robinson, Dinga Bell, Kev Gibson and Craig McMullen.