On Sunday 7th February, the UK comedy industry lead by Rhod Gilbert descended on Blyth - an unassuming but passionately community-driven town in Northumberland - for the first ever UK Comics Boxing. The show had been dedicated to raising funds for Kian Musgrove, a 3 year-old boy from Newcastle who’s battle with an aggressive childhood cancer called Neuroblastoma has left him out of treatment options in the UK after doctors confirmed the dreaded relapse late last year. Kian’s only chance now is an experimental treatment in the US which can increase his chances of survival from 0% to 80%but will cost at least £555,000 - a sum that he must have in the bank in full before the treatment can start.
Colin Manford’s live online telethon which will take place on Wednesday 2nd March and will involve a whole host of comedians – those involved in Fight for Kian and many others - in a marathon broadcast geared towards collecting online donations for Kian’s fund.
The UK Comics Boxing: Fight for Kian saw 20 top comics come together to compete in amateur boxing bouts and over the weeks prior to the Sunday night showdown; sold out to its 800-capacity and developed into a carnival – in the end raising a phenomenal £30,000 towards Kian’s treatment. Since that night, awareness of Kian’s plight has increased exponentially and donations have gained pace with it, with the fundraising total soaring from £250,000 to £413,000 in a matter of weeks.
There is still a long way to go though and the seemingly unlikely team of Blyth and the comedy industry en-masse has refused to rest until Kian is flying across the Atlantic with the treatment waiting for him on the other side.
That’s where Kian’s 100 Heroes come in!
Since 800 people filed out of Blyth Sports Centre on Sunday 7th after the final fight of the night between brothers Gav and Kai Humphries, the guys behind Punch-Drunk Comedy and the UK Comics Boxing – people have been clamouring for ways to help Kian collect the rest of the money that he needs. Much has been discussed about the financial position that professional footballers or TV stars find themselves in and whether they should be stepping up to pay for Kian’s treatment. But Kai and Gav have different ideas. They think that the money can be raised just as quickly by all of us.
So they’ve called upon those around them who are following Kian’s story to step forward as everyday heroes. To pledge to raise £1,000 each by any means necessary - by selling a skill or talent; being sponsored for a challenge; doing something out of the comfort zone or getting their friends together on a large scale for something that can be monetised.
So far over 80 individuals have signed up from all walks of life, including a number of comedians. Marcus Brigstocke, Ben Crompton, Carl Hutchinson, Matt Reed, Nicola Mantalios-Lovett and Colin Manford are all on board and dreaming up innovative ways to pull together £1,000 in double-time.
One interesting avenue is Colin Manford’s live online telethon which will take place on Wednesday 2nd March and will involve a whole host of comedians – those involved in Fight for Kian and many others - in a marathon broadcast geared towards collecting online donations for Kian’s fund.
If you want to find out more about Kian and his journey you can by searching ‘Caring For Kian’ on Facebook or simply Google ‘Kian Musgrove’.
You can donate to Kian’s treatment fund at www.kapipal.com/caringforkian and if you think you might want to become one of Kian’s 100 Heroes, just email [email protected] or give the Punch-Drunk team a call on 07545167763!
