IF you are looking for the perfect way to get back into shape then this could be the event for you. The race is on to find local people prepared to run in the Liverpool 10K race later this year and raise funds for a major charity, as it continues to search for a cure for a muscle wasting disease.

As part of its, ‘Every Second Counts, Every Penny Matters’ appeal, the Regional Office of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is asking readers to enter the event and to get sponsored for running. In return, everyone who raises funds can claim some great sportswear rewards and will also be sent an ‘Every Second Counts, Every Penny Matters’ T-shirt or running vest to show their support for the charity during the race.

Says Charles Horton, Muscular Dystrophy Campaign Regional Fundraising Manager:- “We need as many people as possible to enter the Liverpool 10k and raise funds if we are going to beat this disease. It’s a great way to help others and will give you a real goal to focus on. Every week, five people in the UK are born with muscular dystrophy. Every second counts if we are to help improve the lives of those people in the future”.

The Liverpool 10K race takes place on Sunday 9 October, starting at 10am.

For an entry form and sponsorship pack call the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign Regional Office on 01244 403012 or email:-  charlesh@muscular-dystrophy.org 

LIVERPOOL is set to host England V Canada boxing match on Wednesday, July 20. The City to also stage multi-nations contest from 25 July to 29 July Weigh in at Adelphi Hotel at 7pm on Tuesday 19 July. Liverpool is to stage 2 major boxing events over the next fortnight. First up is an England International bout against Canada - the city's third this year after matches against USA and an historic clash against Cuba. In what is turning into one of the busiest years in the city's boxing history, having hosted Amir Khan's first post-Athens bout, the Canadians will also be staying on to feature in a multi-nations tournament in the city at the end of the month.

Both contests will take place at the Liverpool Olympia and are sponsored by the Liverpool Culture Company. The 11-bout England v Canada contest will take place on Wednesday 20 July. The Multi-Nations event will run from July 25-29 and will feature more than 70 boxers from 9 countries such as Australia, Cyprus as well as the home nations and 2 England teams.

Fans can expect a local flavour to the England team to face Canada, as it will feature three of Liverpool's most promising boxers:-

David Price, Super Heavyweight, Salisbury ABC, Everton Valley. A twice 4 nations champion and recent Gold medallist at EU Tournament in Sardinia. David ranked No 3 in Europe. Only England winner in historic Cuba match at Olympia in April. David, 21, has his sights on the World Championships in Nainjing, China in November and Melbourne Commonwealth Games in March.

Nathan Brough, Light Welterweight, St Aloysius ABC, Huyton. The 22-year-old is another with his eyes on the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games. World Junior Bronze medallist. First season as a senior.

Tony 'Bomber' Bellew, Heavyweight, Rotunda ABC, Kirkdale. Tony 22 - Twice and current ABA champion. 2nd season in senior ranks.

Liverpool’s Golden Gloves club coach Kevin Smith will also manage the England team.

The city's status as the UK's no 1 amateur boxing city was cemented earlier this year when Liverpool won the right to host the European Senior Boxing Championships in 2008 - which will also double up as a qualifier for the Beijing Olympics.

Paul King, Liverpool City Council's Boxing Development Officer, said:- ''These are exciting times for the city and its boxers. We have potentially our first world amateur champion in David Price and I'm confident that in David and Nathan we have 2 prospective Commonwealth Champions in waiting. Tony is also as good a talent as any that city has had. They are all at the start of their senior careers and have fantastic futures ahead of them. To see them all on the same card will be a real treat for boxing fans.''

Councillor Warren Bradley, the city council's executive member for sport and culture, said:- ''This has been a great year for amateur boxing in the city. To host three of the biggest boxing nations and a multi-nations in the same year shows just how highly the city is thought of within the sport. It's great preparation for when we host the European seniors in 2008. To see so many Liverpool boxers in an England shirt is a great boost for the city council's spots development programme and augurs well as we build up to the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. I'm delighted to see work has now begun on the Liverpool Arena at the Kings Dock as that will strengthen the city's ability to stage some of the biggest indoor sporting events in the UK.''