A TEENAGE sports star has roped neighbours into a event that will see them step into the ring and square up to each other - all in the name of charity.

Jordan Williams organised a Thai boxing charity night in the former St Luke’s Church, in Sedgefield, County Durham, tomorrow (Saturday, September 27) to thank supporters who helped him land a world title.

Billed as Box for Darcie, the show will raise money for 4Louis, a charity that creates memory boxes for families who have lost a baby.

Residents of the Trimdons have raised thousands of pounds for charity in memory of Darcie Jane Bowes, daughter of Trimdon Colliery couple Gary and Lisa Bowes, who was stillborn in 2012.

One of their flagship events is a fancy dress pram race, held in June to coincide with Darcie’s birthday.

Buoyed by their fundraising success, villagers were able to extend their generosity and help Jordan travel to the Unified World Championships Italy last November where he won the Muay Thai Championship title.

The 17-year-old, from Trimdon Colliery, vowed he would thank them upon his return and felt introducing them to his sport first hand was the best way.

He managed to persuade 20 people, including two women, to take up the martial art and compete in a friendly team competition.

Each has been sponsored to take part and will represent team captains Jordan and his uncle, Graham Mercer, from Trimdon Grange.

Jordan’s mother, Zoe Goodrum, said: “I, like a lot of people here, take part in the Push for Darcie pram race because we’ve really taken the 4Louis charity to heart.

“Without those same fundraisers supporting Jordan, helping him get to Italy, he wouldn’t have the opportunity to win a world title and have that fantastic experience.

“We had a celebration when he got back and we said thank you but he knows how important 4Louis is for so many people round here that he wanted to do more.

“It’s amazing that people who’ve never done Thai boxing before have been training in community centres and the gym to get in the ring for the first time on Saturday, it’ll be good fun and they’re being sponsored for a great cause.”

The show has proved so popular that it had to move venues to accommodate the sell-out crowd of 300.

There will be ten fights, a demonstration by Jordan and other fundraising activities on the night.