A MAN who has dedicated much of his life to raising money for charity and running Halstead Amateur Boxing Club is this week’s Gazette Community Hero of the week.

George Cook, who will turn 70 next month, has completed six marathons and carried bricks from Colchester to Halstead on three occasions.

He has also overcome his own personal battle after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and undergoing treatment at the Mary Barron Suite at Colchester Hospital, now, he completes most of his charity work for the unit.

Mr Cook said: “It is just nice to give something back, a lot of people support the boxing club so the least I can do is give something back to the community.

"I enjoy helping out, I have lived in Halstead the large majority of my life and the least I can do is try and support the community in my own little way.”

George moved to Halstead when he was nine and immediately became a member of the boxing club.

When it folded in 1968, George took it upon himself to step in and relaunched it in 1970.

He abseiled down the 162 ft Colchester Town Hall three times and carried 24 bricks from Colchester to Halstead a further three times.

One of his walks bought a new bowling machine for Halstead Cricket Club and another carry purchased a mini-bus for the Ramsey Academy.

Mr Cook hopes to complete another brick walk this year to raise money for some new sparring equipment for the boxing club.

George ran his first marathon aged 47 and has completed another five since. Eric Tingle, who has known George for 40 years, nominated him.

He said: “He is almost in his 70s now and he does a hell of a lot for the kids.

"His charity work is unbelievable and his list of accomplishments is very impressive.

"He’s tirelessly worked for the boxing club despite some of the difficulties he has faced, nobody does more for Halstead.”

Caroline Searles, club secretary at Halstead Boxing Club, added: “He is a great leader, mentor and friend to everyone who steps through the doors of the Halstead Boxing Club.

“He works tirelessly for the Club and asks for nothing in return except for the success of the boxers and his desire to see them achieve their goals.”

To nominate a Community Hero, e-mail sean.davies@nqe.com or call 01376 334342.