Dorset boy’s walk to achieve martial arts dream

Blaize Sharp, a member of Matt Fiddes' Team Fear mixed martial arts club at St Mary's School in Bridport run by Lucy Fear, has been selected - along with fellow club member Bailey - as one of only 100 students nationally to compete in the prestigious MF International Championships in Australia next year.

Having been selected to compete in the prestigious event, Blaize, from Beaminster, has to raise £2,500 to cover some of the costs of the trip - and collected a significant sum of more than £800 after completing a sponsored walk with his dad.

He walked from Charmouth to West Bay where he was met by his ‘extremely proud’ mum and brothers.

Dad Dan said: "As Blaize's chaperone on this fundraising hike, I can vouch that this route and section of the coastal path was seriously hard going and testing in the blustery and drizzly weather.

“As his dad I was so proud of him, for achieving this with such grace and humour, he was a pleasure to do this with, and completed without a moan or a whinge, and carried a smile and positive attitude the whole way."

Blaize came up with the idea of doing a sponsored walk, and with the help of his mum and dad, the idea of the nine mile walk from Charmouth to West Bay was conceived.

Dan added: “We realised the sponsored walk would need to be something challenging and attention grabbing, so we figured the coastal path over this section of the Jurassic coast, including climbing up and over Golden Cap being the highest point on the south coast of the UK at 175 metres should get some attention.”

Blaize and his dad set off from Charmouth in ‘blustery and wet conditions,’ and completed the gruelling hike in just four and a half hours.

Blaize Sharp is fundraising for travel costs to get him to a martial arts championship in Australia (Image: Dan Sharp)

Dan said: “We were amazed with the amount of generosity and support shown by everyone who donated and helped to share and advertise the sponsored walk, and never expected to reach the amazing amount it did, we are really grateful for all the support, donations and messages.”

Blaize, a pupil at Salway Ash Primary School, is currently training hard for the British Championships to be held in Gloucester on October 15. He is competing in the blue belt category.

He is also in the process of planning out his next fundraising event and challenge and planning some joint fundraisers with his fellow martial art student Bailey.

At the time of writing, the nine-year-old has raised £830 of a £2,500 target.

If you would like to donate to his efforts, visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Blaize-sharp-1?utm_term=QbwMd2Awz.