12 gazette 4 October 2012
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charity Fight night at Croke Park for Pieta
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Boxing star John Joe Nevin, pictured here at the SARI Soccerfest 2012 in Phoenix Park, leads the line-up
Silver-medal drive for charity boxers laura webb
Olympic silver medallist John Joe Nevin is returning to the boxing ring and joining the fight against suicide for Pieta House in the coming weeks. The silver medallist is taking part in the Croker Clash Charity Fight night in aid of the suicide crisis centre. The event, which takes place on Friday, October 12, will see Nevin take to the ring alongside Jim Rock, aka The Pink Panther, and Paul Dunne. It also sees brave beginners get into the ring for the first time after just a few
weeks of training. Now in its third year, the event is organised by Mountjoy prison officers Helen Feeney and Paul Dunne, who are both stalwarts of the Irish boxing scene. Past events have attracted crowds of up to 500 people, and they are aiming to sell 1,000 tickets for this year’s Croker Clash. “Following the success of our Olympians in London we decided to go all out and hold the charity fight night in Croke Park this year,” said Helen Feeney. “Boxing is one of the most high-profile sports in Ireland at the moment
so we hope that this event will be a massive success, raising lots of much-needed funds for Pieta House. “Seeing Joan Freeman win her People of the Year Award last year showed me how one person can change the lives of so many, and I hope that The Croker Clash will be a big help in Pieta House’s fight against suicide,” she said. Already confirmed to attend the night is Jimmy Magee, Michael Carruth, Stephen and Alan Reynolds. “I’m really excited that so many stalwarts of the Irish boxing scene have
pledged their support for The Croker Clash,” said Joan Freeman, chief executive and founder of Pieta House. “It’s sure to be a fantastic night and I’d urge everyone to come on down, enjoy the boxing and experience Croke Park in all its glory,” she said. Tickets are on sale now and are available from Ticketmaster at €20 for general admission, €30 for ringside seats. All funds raised on the night will go to Pieta House. For more information on Pieta House, visit www.pieta.ie.