Heron Lodge’s youngest staff member targets world karate championships
Heron Lodge kitchen assistant Conor Young is appealing for donations so he can realise his dream of competing at the World Traditional Karate Championships in Carrara, Italy.
The 17-year-old, whose father Tony is maintenance person at the same nursing home in Wroxham, Norfolk, needs to raise £600 to cover the cost of kit ahead of the trip in October.
So far, he is just over half way to his target through donations to his GoFundMe page https://gofund.me/5d479196
Conor, who has been practising karate since the age of six, becoming a senior black belt at the age of 14, said: “As this is an official world tournament, I will need the official world championship kit, including all sparring kits and other official clothing.
“I won’t be able to work enough hours before October to cover the entire cost on my own.” His father said: “I took Conor along to karate classes after reading about them in a village magazine.
“He loved it straightaway and I eventually took up karate as well.”
The pair are now both members of Black Belt Academy, in Bull Close, Norwich; Tony is also a black belt.
Conor, who works part-time at Heron Lodge and is the youngest member of staff, will be joined by around 10 of his clubmates at the event near Pisa.
He will be competing in three categories, Korean and Japanese Kata, which involve demonstrating skills and balance, and Kumite, which is fighting against an opponent to score points.
The father and son, who live in Blofield, near Norwich, recently taught self-defence to female colleagues at Heron Lodge as part of a fund-raising drive to support Ukrainian refugees.
They aim to do a second session, including male colleagues as well.
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Author: Stephen Pullinger