The idea was conceived by Murray and Swiss counterpart Carl Emery. Like Murray. Emery is a former kickboxing world champion who has devoted his life promoting the sport and coaching generations of new talent.
“Carl and I recognised that one of the best ways to promote understanding and to keep kids out of trouble was to give them something focused and organised to do – and also to give children from all walks of life the opportunity to interact and to respect each other through sport,” said Murray.
The initiative was born out of a trip to a kickboxing event in Villars Switzerland in 2006 which brought a large number of children and their families from deprived parts of Belfast to take part in a prestigious show.
Murray is no stranger to working with both sides in some of Northern Ireland ’s toughest neighbourhoods, establishing in his gyms a non-political middle ground for Catholics and Protestants to work together, to compete and expand their horizons. The trip to Villars was the result of months of fundraising by the children and their families to help make the dream of heading abroad.
“It was a brilliant thing to witness,” said Murray . “For many of these kids – all of whom were aged between 6-12 years old – this was their first time on a plane and their first trip abroad. They were selected on merit and it was down to the dedication of the children and their families that we were able to take so many of them to Switzerland.
The sport receives no funding in Northern Ireland , unlike in other European countries, and the only way to give these children such a wonderful opportunity was to fundraise ourselves. The Fighting for Peace initiative will add structure to this fundraising part and it will mean that other kids can enjoy similar experiences.
“If we are to seriously tackle this youth issue, we have to do it now," added Murray . "This programme is a well realised proper leap forward and we hope to interest policy formers at Stormont in this latest initiative, which is helping to cement the peace.”
