Training is underway for the second White Collar Boxing event, entitled ‘Eye for an Eye’, which will take place on 22nd April at Elland Road stadium’s Conference and Exhibition Centre, in a bid to raise funds for The Zone.

The group of budding boxing champions have been regularly attending training sessions at trainer Rick Manners’ gym in Mabgate Mills, with tuition intensifying as the competition draws closer.

Daniel Lee, the event’s Chairman, says: “There is a group of 15 boxers who regularly attend sessions. They’ve now started sparring in the ring and Rick is treating them to the full Rocky experience. Sessions have increased to twice a week, so they are really being put through their paces.”

Fighters will be matched up in the coming weeks and they will eventually be organised into contenders for five or six fights. Boxers will face three professional judges on the night and the best will go on to compete at the Manchester v Leeds ‘Fight Night’ in October.

Last year’s event raised almost £30,000 for The Zone and Brodetsky Primary School and hopes are high for this year’s competition. “We’d like to raise as much money as possible for The Zone. The event will be completely charity focussed and we want to present a big spectacle for everyone who comes along to see it,” explains Daniel.

Tickets are priced from £50. Tables of 10 are available; priced between £500 and £1,500, based on ringside proximity. There are also sponsorship opportunities.

For tickets or sponsorship information, call Daniel on 07798 565 553 or visit www.eye4neye.co.uk.

B-ICC, the organisation dedicated to developing bilateral trade between the UK and Israel, has revealed upcoming events, launches and networking opportunities within the region.

The B-ICC is set to launch a regional website specifically for the North East region in the coming months, which will give an insight into local activities across the area, as well as news and up-to-date information. Also, following on from the success of last year’s trade mission to Israel which saw 13 delegates explore the Israeli business community and meet influential business leaders and decision makers, another trip is planned for this year.

Jane Clynes, Regional Director of B-ICC, says: “Our Chamber is strong in the North East and we feel that it is important the have equally strong representation, which is why we decided to launch our regional website.”

The first of five B-ICC Breakfast Clubs for 2010 are due to take place on 5th March at Weetwood Hall. It will feature guest speaker David Wilson, North East Regional Managing Partner for Begbies Traynor Group, an insolvency practice.

“The benefits of being part of B-ICC are diverse. There are fantastic networking opportunities with top level business people and I’m very pleased with the range of different speakers at this year’s Breakfast Clubs. We hope to add to the list of speakers as the year progresses,” adds Jane.

For information, contact Jane Clynes on 07703 271 238.

Diary Dates

Forthcoming B-ICC Breakfast Meetings:

• 7th May – Guest speaker Tony De Nunzio CBE, Chief Executive of Dutch Retail Group, Maxeda
• 15th September – Guest speaker Simon Corney, Managing Director of Oldham Athletic Football Club
• 3rd December – Richard McCann, author and motivational speaker
• Dates of future meetings are to be announced.

When actress Emma Gordon worked at London’s New End Theatre as Brian Daniels’ marketing assistant she wandered on to the stage and dreamed of appearing there one day.

Now Emma’s dream is about to come true because the stage is all set for her to appear in the play A Big Day for the Goldbergs. Not only will this be a big day for Emma but it’s a significant occasion for Brian because he actually wrote the play especially for her.

After her success at last year’s Leeds Jewish International Performing Arts Festival (LJIPAF), Emma was asked to do something for the event this year. She phoned Brian to ask if he had anything in mind: “Five minutes later the conversation ended with Brian offering to write something just for me,” said Emma.

Emma plays the role of a young woman who is trapped within her provincial Jewish family and makes a life-changing decision that will take her to new horizons.

The play premieres at the New End Theatre in London and is showing 9th- 21st March. It can be seen in June at this year’s 10th anniversary of LJIPAF at The Carriageworks.

Call 020 747 25800 for tickets.

Diane Morris and her dog Pickle walked in heavy snow last month for a sponsored walk for St Gemma’s Hospice, in memory of her late mother Bunty, and raised in excess of £1,500.

“I wanted to thank the Hospice for the truly wonderful and unstinting care they gave to my mother in the last weeks of her life,” said Diane. Bunty, who died last year, adored Pickle so Diane decided to take part in the hospice’s annual sponsored dog walk.

Pickle is used to the limelight. Five years ago the pooch won a Pup Idol hunt to star in the Potato Room Players’ production of Gigi. As it was a French musical they tried to spray Pickle pink, but after paw-sing for thought Pickle wuffed ‘Non’.