Local fundraiser Gareth Evans, who recently raised more than £10,000 for Parkinson’s UK Cymru by braving a public head shave, has made another meaningful gesture by donating a unique piece of boxing memorabilia to City Hospice.
At the recent Brave the Shave auction, Gareth successfully bid for a pair of signed boxing shorts once worn by Sugar Ray Leonard, the legendary American world champion. Rather than keeping the prized item for himself, Gareth chose to donate the shorts to Cardiff-based charity City Hospice, where they were presented to Corporate Partnerships Manager Nicky Piper, himself a former Welsh boxing champion.
Adding an extra layer of significance to the moment, Gareth made the presentation alongside his father Mike Evans, who was the foreman for the building of City Hospice’s Ty Hosbis 20 years ago.
Gareth Evans said: “Winning Sugar Ray Leonard’s shorts at the auction was a thrill, but I knew straight away I wanted to do something more meaningful with them. City Hospice does amazing work and holds a special place in our family’s history so it just felt right. Handing them over to Nicky, with Dad by my side, was a special moment.”
Mike Evans added: “I was so proud to be part of the team that built Ty Hosbis two decades ago. Seeing Gareth give something back to the hospice brought things full circle for me. It was emotional, and I know the shorts will be used to help raise even more funds for a great cause.”
Receiving the shorts at City Hospice’s offices, Nicky Piper said: “This is a knockout donation, literally and figuratively! We’re honoured that Gareth thought of us, and I’m sure Sugar Ray Leonard would be delighted to know his signed shorts are going to help support vital palliative care here in Cardiff. We’re incredibly grateful to Gareth and Mike for their support and generosity.”
City Hospice plans to use the donated shorts to support future fundraising activity.
