A YOUNG boxer who dreams of one day turning professional also finds time to be a dedicated fundraiser despite training seven days a week.

Sixteen-year-old Mason Coles has been helping raise money for charity with his dad Gavin since he was just ten years old.

Gavin, who has nominated Mason for a Proud of Barnsley award in the Young Superstar category, said: “For his age his list of achievements and dedication to what he sets his goals to be is truly unreal.

“He’s completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks three times, the first time at just 11 years old, the second he went to help Simon Atkinson, a fundraiser who works for the hospice, and others to complete their challenge.

“He did it a third time this year by night and unfortunately for him on the second peak a storm rolled in. He spent over eight hours completing the peaks and five of them in one of the worst nights so far of 2025.

But it didn’t end there he got in at 5am to be back out running a 5k at 10am with his sister’s amateur boxing club who were also raising funds that weekend too.

“I could go on and on about my remarkable lad as his list of events go a little like this: multiple obstacle races, including Tough Mudder, he’s done lots of fundraising in local supermarkets doing things like 24-hour cycles and 24-hour runs on a treadmill as part of team.

“Along with the Yorkshire Three Peaks this year he’s also done the National Three Peaks in 24 hours covering the three highest peaks in England to be followed a week later by the Barnsley 10k.

“What also makes it outstanding when most kids are on the games console or out with friends Mason can be regularly seen training up Ladybower on a Friday night to be ready for these events or running round our local community.

“He never misses a charity disco which we hold around three times a year at our local working men’s club also raising funds for the Barnsley Hospice.

“His efforts have seen him help so many people on a personal level and raise around £65,000 for the Barnsley Hospice alone plus more money for other local groups.”

Mason’s sister Caitlin has also nominated him.

“Mason really is just that a young superstar, at just 16 he has the kindest heart and asks for nothing in return.

“Mason is an an amateur boxer and is training consistently seven days a weeks to hopefully go far with his boxing, but this isn’t just the reason I want to nominate him.

“Whilst doing this and setting on with his goals he helps me out regularly at my boxing club Griffin Boxing Club.

“He volunteers every week running the kids’ classes to bring them into the world of boxing and most importantly to help them enjoy it.

“We value Mason massively at Griffin Boxing Club, he’s a role model for the young kids and even adults that he helps in the classes.

“Mason helps all ages and abilities every session whether it be he comes to volunteer with the class or even if he’s training himself he will always take time to help others.

“It’s a big responsibility for a 16-year-old to take on volunteering with children and young people but he absolutely smashes it and many parents have come to us and told us how much their child looks up to Mason and have even said before they want to be like Mason when they are older.”

Mason was also nominated by Barnsley Hospice which said: “Mason’s 2026 calendar is already filling up with challenges he wishes to complete whilst raising money for important causes, including a Triathlon and a 50-mile Ultra Marathon. And yet, Mason is still only 16 years old definitely a young superstar!”

Mason said: “When I was younger my dad was always doing challenges to raise money for the hospice after they cared for my grandma and I thought I could do something to help too and that’s how it started.

“I’m really buzzing to have been nominated as my dad has won a Proud of Barnsley award, my sister won a Young Champions award last year and my mum was part of a team at the hospice that won an award too.”