Cage Fight Boys

 

There has been a lot of media hype  today about the two young boys who were cage fighting. Indeed the police have been involved but have decided to take no further action and various spokes people have made media statements  - see below.

We at the Child Brain Injury Trust do not endorse or encourage any kind of activitiy or so called sport that has only one objective - to knock your opponent out!  There is no need for it, no sense in it and there is plenty of evidence to show the damage it causes especially to the contestants brain's.

However, we  do encourage children to participate in sports and for boys and girls to have activities that enables them to keep fit and to let of steam in a controlled and safe environment.  However, beating each other up for the gratification of an audience is not something we condone not should it be - we see far too many cases of childhood brain injury and the impact it has on the whole family to ever support these kind of sports.

Lisa Turan
CEO


Press Statement
Police will take no action against the organisers of "barbaric" cage fighting involving children as young as eight.

Concerns were raised about whether two boys were put at risk by taking part in a bout at Greenlands Labour Club in Preston, Lancashire, in front of a 250-strong adult audience.

But a spokesman for Lancashire Police said the force has "looked into this matter fully and there are no issues for us to pursue".

Earlier Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt condemned the event as "barbaric" and expressed shock at an apparent lack of restrictions on the activity.

A video of the bout posted on the internet shows the youngsters fighting in a cage without protective padding or headgear and receiving medical attention.

"Getting more young people doing sport is great but I do ask myself whether it really does have to be in a cage," Mr Hunt told the BBC. "It just feels to me, it feels very barbaric and I know there are concerns about children that young doing a sport like that.

"We don't want to discourage children from doing sport, and particularly young boys with all the social problems that we were thinking about in the summer. We have to recognise that sport has a very, very important role but I think with this particular sport, I think some people will ask some questions."
Club owner Michelle Anderson defended her decision to stage the event, and Nick Hartley, the father of one of the boys, told the BBC his son was not at risk of harm.

Mr Hartley said: "He loves the sport. It's not one bit dangerous, it's a controlled sport. He likes to do it. He's never forced to do it, he wants to do it, so leave him to do it. He'll never get hurt, it's a controlled sport, he could never get hurt."

Ms Anderson said: "The children were not doing cage fighting, they were just grappling. There was no punching, kicking or striking. The event was perfectly legal. If you criticise this, then you've got to ask yourself if it's all right for kids to do boxing or judo."

MP 'heads - up over Kids

MP’s heads-up over kids’ cycling safety

STAY SAFE ... South Shields MP David Miliband with Harton Primary School pupils, who are wearing cycling helmets donated by brain injury charity Headway and Thompsons Solicitors.

By LISA NIGHTINGALE
Published on Thursday 15 September 2011 11:55

SOUTH Shields MP David Miliband has urged young cyclists to use their heads and stay safe.

Mr Miliband was at Harton Primary School in South Shields, where he encouraged pupils to wear cycle helmets when riding.
His talk came ahead of The Cycles (Protective Headgear for Children) Bill receiving its second reading in Parliament on November 4, which would make it compulsory for under-14s to wear a helmet when out on their bikes.
During last Friday’s visit to the East Avenue school, Mr Miliband handed out 30 cycle helmets, donated by Thompsons Solicitors in South Shields, which has teamed up with brain injury charity Headway.
Mr Miliband said: “Children love riding their bikes, but it is crucial that they protect themselves – and the way to do this is to wear a helmet.
“I am delighted that Headway and Thompsons have joined forces to donate potential life-saving helmets to the young people of Harton Primary School.”
Mr Miliband was joined on the visit by Alastair White, the North East regional co-ordinator for Headway, Miranda Barty-Taylor from the Child Brain Injury Trust, and Paul Brown and Mick Laffey from Thompsons Solicitors.
Mr White said: “If this action prevents just one child and family from suffering from the effects of brain injury, it will be a success.
“If the Bill is passed, we have no doubts it will save many lives.”
Paul Brown added: “We deal with many cases following road traffic accidents where children are seriously injured, and we see the devastating effects that brain injury can have on children and their families.
“We are therefore committed to raising awareness of brain injury, promoting road safety and reducing accidents.
“It is by undertaking awareness campaigns such as this, in partnership with the school, which will hopefully reduce the amount of brain injuries and fatalities on our roads.”