A book signing with global boxing legend Frank Bruno is being held at Oxford Stadium this month following the launch of his latest release ’60 Years A Fighter’.
The former WBC Heavyweight champion will visit the Cowley venue on Thursday, August 11, from 6.30pm. Admission for the event is free and signed copies of Bruno’s book will be available to purchase on the day for £25.
Inside, the Hammersmith-born champion opens up on his journey to becoming a World Champion and the fight he has publicly tackled in retirement with mental ill health.
Bruno’s battles with mental health inspired the creation of his charity – The Frank Bruno Foundation.
The foundation works with people experiencing mental ill health to have positive aspirations for their futures via non-contact boxing and wellbeing programmes and will launch a new centre inside Oxford Stadium soon.
“The ongoing project to restore Oxford Stadium back into the hands of the local community is truly inspiring and something I feel privileged to be part of,” said Bruno. “Boxing can be used as a powerful platform to inspire positive change to peoples’ lives.
“Despite improvements, there remains a stigma attached to mental health and our facility in Oxford will support and develop local people via education, engagement and non-contact boxing programmes.
“I look forward to seeing as many people as possible at the book signing and taking a sneak peak of the foundation’s newest centre.”
Bruno’s visit will coincide with the final touches being added to the Frank Bruno Foundation’s latest health and wellbeing centre based inside Oxford Stadium.
The facility is already home to Blackbird Leys ABC – Oxford’s oldest boxing club – and will work with up to 2,000 people per month by delivering its non-contact boxing programmes and wrap-around wellness service when it opens later this year.
The charity’s Chief Operations Officer Brandon Eldred said the centre will be the only one of its kind in Oxford’s eastern arch.
“East Oxford and its surrounds have been crying out for a facility of this kind – it will be a fantastic asset to the community,” said Brandon. “We’re looking forward to Frank’s visit later this month and showing him just how much our space has developed in such a short space of time.
“Frank’s book signing will be a real boost to members of Blackbird Leys ABC too, who I know cannot wait to welcome him into their new fully functional gym after a period of uncertainty.”
To reserve a space at Frank Bruno’s book signing at Oxford Stadium on Thursday, August 11, from 6.30pm, please visit frankbruno.co.uk.
