OBU Amateur Boxing Club raise COVID-19 relief funds for Project Komba

Read about how the OBU Amateur Boxing Club have been using their energy to raise funds for an island hit hard by COVID-19 in this report by Monika Zilionyte.

2 min read.

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OBUABC understands just how much this pandemic has affected people’s lives- their incomes, livelihoods and quality of life. That’s why, last semester, we partnered with Project Komba to raise money for the Madagascan Island Nosy Komba. Nosy Komba relies heavily on the tourism industry, its capital city Ampagourina is a wildlife hotspot where nature meets humanity. When Madagascar closed its borders in March, the tourism industry came to a halt, stripping the community of its income. Nosy Komba is facing huge economic uncertainty and the aim of Project Komba is to campaign to raise money for the vulnerable community. With 75% of the population surviving on less than $2 a day (World Bank, 2021), the effects of COVID-19 have caused a great struggle.

As the Marketing Secretary, I was first introduced to Project Komba through a friend who had lived and worked with Lemur conservation groups in Madagascar. Her passion and care for the community and its wildlife was obvious, and when she expressed her concern for the way the pandemic has impacted the island, I knew we could do something to help. Through her help, I got into contact with the fundraising managers of Project Komba and pitched the idea to OBUABC. We were all ready to help.

In a time-limited challenge, members of OBUABC committed to running/walking/cycling the 2,000km length of Madagascar as a team. 12 determined members committed to reach 120km each in just 10 weeks from the start of November. We were informed by Project Komba that £30 pays for 1 sack of rice which feeds a family for one month.

So we set off, in the freezing November weather, through the uncertainties of newfound pandemic life, to run. OBUABC began to operate solely on virtual platforms, posting workout videos, challenges, hosting online boxing classes and raising money! We proudly closed our gofundme page with £815 ($1,115) raised for Project Komba. A total of 1,440 km completed and 26 families supported.

OBUABC aims to continue supporting Project Komba in their relentless aid to the vulnerable communities in Nosy Komba. We wanted to thank all of the members that challenged themselves and those who donated – we couldn’t have done it without you!

The members of OBAUBC who completed their 120km challenge are:

Jodie Stevenson
Seb Mars-Feiley
Alex Partington
Natalie Stube
Ella Page
James Paul
Maisie Bracher
Amul Rana
Frazer Innes
Joss Gaddie
Ben Hedley
Ed Hamilton
Monika Zilionyte

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