A former world championship boxer has donated thousands of pounds in aid of a Blackburn-based charity. The Amir Khan Foundation, set up by Bolton boxer Amir Khan, donated £2,000 to a fundraiser launched by Blackburn Blind Sports, which provides sports sessions to the blind and visually impaired. Charity chair Mohammed Salim Patel set up the fundraiser three weeks ago, aiming to raise nearly £19,000 for specialist equipment including goalball goals, court marking tape and other equipment.
An impressive £18,719 has been raised at the time of writing. Mohammed, who is blind, set up the service in November because he was frustrated at the lack of sports available to the blind and partially sighted in Blackburn and across Lancashire. Goalball (team sport designed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment), at Bangor Street, and blind tennis, at Blackburn Northern Sports Club, is currently being offered by the organisation.
He said: “In November I set up the club because the council and local charities weren’t offering anything for us. “I was eager to get some competitive sports opportunities going. I knew from other people that there was a demand and interest and that people wanted to get out and play sport.
“We’ve been getting by up until now but we are playing without proper equipment. “it’s frustrating and it gets me angry sometimes. Why should it be down to me to sort this? "Councils and charities should have an obligation to do this, but because they.