COLCHESTER's up-and-coming international boxer Lewis Richardson says receiving another grant from the Rob George Foundation makes a "massive difference" to him.

The 20-year-old, who earlier this week secured a fourth national title, has been boosted after receiving £500 from the foundation.

It will help him with his costs, as he bids to progress to the Great Britain ranks and strive for the Olympic Games.

It is the third time that Richardson has been given financial support by the foundation, which was founded in memory of former Colchester and East Essex cricketer and talented sportsman Rob George.

Rob died aged 21 in December 2013 following a long battle with leukaemia.

Richardson, who starts his three-day Great Britain assessment trials in Sheffield today, says the grant is a huge boost.

Richardson said: “It makes a massive difference.

“It’s been a busy couple of months and to receive help with the costs for things like travelling and hotels is massive.

“The support of the Rob George Foundation is great and they are very keen to support young athletes like me.

“It means a great deal to me and it’s fantastic to have their support.”

Rob's father and foundation chairman Philip George says they are delighted to continue to get behind Richardson.

It provided the talented youngster with his first grant in December 2015 and then a second in February, 2017.

He said: “We operate on a national basis and welcome applications from young people all over the UK but it’s very nice when an application comes from someone as close to us as Lewis.

“We’re very pleased to support a young whose profile is growing.

“Lewis is very good at keeping in touch with us and we were thrilled when he recently won the Male Sports Personality award at the Colchester Sports Personality Awards.

“The money we give him won’t change the world but for Lewis, it makes the difference between him being able to do these things and having to pick and choose.

“We’d love to have an Olympian in our midst and hopefully, our support can play a part in helping Lewis reach that level.

“Rob was an all-round sportsman - e excelled at golf and cricket and was a junior captain at Colchester Golf Club and played for Colchester and East Essex’s first XI.

“But he also played rugby, hockey and football and he would have appreciated Lewis’s talented as a boxer.

“Rob would have loved Lewis and his attitude."

The Rob George Foundation has awarded nearly 500 grants in the last four years that it has been operational.

The foundation aims to provide practical and/or financial support to young people with life threatening or terminal illnesses.

It also strives to help youngsters who demonstrate exceptional sporting commitment and/or ability or in the performing arts but may be held back by their financial situation from pursuing their goals.

“The aims of our foundation were pretty much set by Rob himself," said Philip.

“When Rob was terminally ill, he talked about ways in which his spirit could live on.

“He was a young man who would have made a difference in his lifetime.

“When he knew that he wasn’t going to make it, we asked him if he wanted the Foundation set up and he did.

“On the one hand, Rob wanted to help young people who are sick and terminally ill but he also wanted to provide financial support to young people who are talented in their sport or art but might be held back by their financial situation.

“We like our supporters to know where some of their money is going.

“When people can see that it’s genuinely making a difference to people then hopefully, that's encouraging."