tommygower@gmail.com 0 84 84 84 641

Source: Bangkok Post General news Sunday April 01, 2007
BOXING SEEKS SECOND WIND

Boxing gym for tsunami kids needs donations

Story By Anjira Assavanonda

Thirty-year-old British boxer Tommy Gower believes his boxing classes can help reduce stress levels among the tsunami-affected kids and help them become more cheerful and disciplined. — TAWEECHAI TAWATPAKORN

Tommy Gower looked a little drained by the time he arrived at the Bangkok Post offices on Thursday afternoon. The 30-year-old Briton said he was on a mission, not for himself or his country, but for the children of a tsunami-hit province.

Mr Gower opened a boxing gym at Ban Pru Tiew, in Takua Pa district of Phangnga province, about 20 months ago. That is when people in the community were starting to recover from the tsunami.

The gym attracts children who are interested in boxing and have nowhere else to spend their free time. He now has 30 students who come regularly to train after school and on weekends.

"But I'm running out of money now. If there's nothing I can do, maybe the gym has to be closed. So I came here for publicity. I hope I will get help if more people know what I'm doing there," he said, explaining why he has been making the rounds in Bangkok over the past week.

Once a professional boxer in the UK, Mr Gower first came to Thailand in November 2004 for medical rehabilitation after suffering injuries to his shoulder and hips.

When the tsunami struck, he was in Bangkok, and felt a strong desire to help. So when the chance came in March 2005, he headed south to Phangnga, the hardest-hit province, and joined a group of volunteers to help in the recovery process - rebuilding communities and teaching English to children.

After seeing people in desperate situations for several months, he came up with the idea of starting a traditional Thai boxing (Muay Thai) club for Thai children.

"Boxing is good for children. It's good for their bodies, their hearts and minds. Besides, children are more attracted to boxing than learning English. They looked bored when I taught them English, but they had fun in boxing class," said Mr Gower.

He got assistance from Lez Quinn, a London-based hospice counsellor who helped rent a two-storey warehouse where they could offer Muay Thai training and a other activities to local people. He received start-up donations from UK charities, such as Geordie Aid and the Bath Rotary Club, as well as from Swedish and German charities.

"I also spent money from my own savings and from my parents who have willingly supported what I do," said Mr Gower.

The money was used to set up the gym, including the purchase of equipment such as boxing bags and gloves, and paying building rent of 4,000 baht a month.

Mr Gower also fights occasionally in local boxing contests to earn money to run his gym. But it is not enough.

"Now I have no more money to pay the rent, which will finish next month. So I need help from others, to get my gym to go on," he said.

He explained that apart from the rent, he also needs 8,000 baht a month to pay a full-time Thai boxing coach for the gym. And to put the gym in a perfect state, he needs 40,000 baht for a boxing ring, and 20,000 baht for additional boxing gear and rubber flooring mats.

He said he hoped the project would not have to be terminated, because boxing can ease children's stress and make them more disciplined.

"When they first came to the gym, they had no self-confidence. I rarely saw them smile. Some of them lost parents or relatives in the tsunami.

"They had anger in their hearts. Some came with bad attitudes. They didn't respect me or even Thai boxing," said Mr Gower.

Boxing helped the children release their anger, he said, and now have become more cheerful and disciplined.

Saravuth Jindanil, 13, said he has been learning to box for several months.

"My friend told me about the gym and I was interested. I'd like to learn boxing for self-defence," said Saravuth.

He goes to the gym everyday after school. Boxing has helped strengthen his body and given him an outlet to release anger, he said.

"Tommy is a good teacher, too. Besides boxing, he often tells me to be a good boy, to stay away from drugs and think carefully before doing anything," said Saravuth.

Mr Gower hopes he can continue this project to help Thai people.

"I love Thailand, and I'll be staying here for good.

"Thailand once healed my physical and mental wounds, so I want to give [something] back by doing something for people here," he said.

tommygower@gmail.com 0 84 84 84 641