It’s not every day you get a proposal to step into the boxing ring to spar with a former political opponent in aid of charity.
But that’s exactly what happened to Labour councillor for Cowes North, Richard Quigley, this week.
Iain McKie, the former UKIP prospective parliamentary candidate in the 2015 General Election shared an email with News OnTheWight that he’d written to Cllr Quigley suggesting the challenge. His email read,
“Here is a random proposal.
“First I will be clear that I am not a member of any political party and have no axe to grind.
“Second I have a campaign I like to raise money for (I just raised £2,000 by walking 100 miles in 48 hours across the peaks).
“Third I have never done this before so have no experience at all in boxing beyond seeing the Rocky films.
“Would you be interested in a charity boxing match between you and me?
“I am sure that we could fill the card and put on a good show and raise a ton of money for charity.
“I’m not looking to win or get anything over you but I’d like to use the opportunity to raise cash for bladder cancer.”
Quigley: No desire to punch someone or be punched by someone else
News OnTheWight got in touch with Cllr Quigley to find out what he thought of the proposal. He told us.
“I thank Mr McKie for his invitation and I am indeed flattered that he thinks I am well known enough to attract a crowd. (Though I’m sure there are a few people on the opposite side of politics that would like to see me knocked on my backside).
“Unfortunately, I have absolutely no desire to punch someone or to be punched by someone else, for the simple reason it hurts. Like most people, I try to avoid causing myself or others pain.
“I am, however, happy to support charity. Hopefully the publicity Mr McKie’s open letter has garnered will allow him to set up a Just Giving page which I will happily donate to.”
Image: Iain McKie © Used with permission of Jason Swain Photography
