Durham Thai boxer launches fundraiser to fulfill dream of representing Team GB at European Championships

A Thai boxer from County Durham has launched a fundraising drive to help achieve his dreams of representing Team GB at the European Championships in Turkey.

Aidan K Forster, from Ferryhill, hopes to raise enough money to fly out to Instanbul for the IFMA Muay Thai European Championships that start on February 15 after he was selected to fight for Team GB.

This is the third time Aidan, 20, has been selected to represent his country after first fighting for the team as a junior in the IFMA World Championship in Antalya, Turkey, when he was 17.

Then, as a senior, he won bronze at the IFMA Baltic Open in Vilnius, Lithuania - but his hopes of continuing his winning streak rest on him raising £2,500 to help fund the trip.

Aidan said: "This is my dream; to fight for my country, to represent my gym and local town, it's a massive thing for me.

"In 2016 I was starting to think I want to be on this team and then in 2019, I got selected as a junior to go out to Turkey.

"It was a massive eye-opener to the level of Thai boxing around the world. You are fighting the best juniors in the world, there's no doubt about that.

"Then I was selected as a senior to go to Lithuania. I was the youngest and the least experienced but I came back with a bronze medal.

"I just want to fight my best, medals are what you want but just getting on the team is a massive achievement in itself.

"As long as I put my heart and soul into every fight then I'll be happy."

Aidan has been training in Muay Thai since he was five years old at the same gym, Phoenix Thai Boxing in Shildon, under coach Gary Mcallister.

The dedicated athlete juggles studying Sport and Exercise Science at Durham University and training at the gym six days a week.

But his