A former professional boxer has agreed to complete a succession of lunges up Mount Snowdon to help his former gym recover from lockdown.
Welterweight prodigy Joe Wood was forced to retire from the sport on health grounds in 2018, after building up a formidable reputation.
Joe, who fought under the moniker of the 'Rydal Psycho', was always a popular figure at the Rydal gym on Stanley Road in Kirkdale.
The young fighter, who was known for the Hannibal Lecter style face mask he sometimes wore, built up a loyal following in the city.
In 2017 Joe fought on the undercard of a Callum Smith fight at the ECHO Arena when he stopped Ilian Markov inside the distance.
Joe, who no longer boxes professionally, recently agreed to help his old gym raise cash for a new mezzanine area by lunging his way up Mount Snowdon.
Joe will be joined by Lee McDonald, known to Rydal regulars as 'Ducks.' But rather than walk up Snowdon the two men have decided on completing lunges up the 4.7 mile route.
Joe said to the ECHO : "Yes we decided on lunging our way up Snowdon. The route we have chosen is around 4.7 miles so that will be around 8000 lunges each.
"The fundraising target is £5,000, which will be the cost of building a new mezzanine floor in the gym. We have been in training around the Kirkdale area and got plenty of strange looks, but it's all in a good cause."
Robbie Butler, who runs the Rydal, said: "The pandemic meant we were facing financial ruin. Joe and Lee have agreed to climb Mount Snowden to raise much needed cash for the Rydal to help us continue to provide a range of services."
The Rydal is based in the old Bankhall Girls Institute building on Stanley Road. The institute offered education to girls in the Kirkdale area. In the 1970s the building became the Rydal youth centre, but it closed around 2006 due to funding issues. In 2010 Robbie took over the Rydal with a mate, investing £20,000.
The gym prides itself on the positive role it plays in the north Liverpool community, and has provided a food bank facility and other services to help local families and the homeless.
Robbie added: "The support we have had from our amazing Rydal gym members has been amazing I’m so blessed to have such kind - helpful folk in our palace of positivity
"I can’t possibly thank Joe and Lee enough and all the kind folk who’s donated already."
To support the fundraiser go here
