Former NSW MP and Australian Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion Steve Cansdell is encouraging the Clarence Valley community to support Glenreagh teenager Tamsyn McConnell as she continues to recover from serious injuries sustained in a single vehicle accident in September 2022.
The 17-year-old has undergone multiple operations and was non-verbal with limited mobility following the accident.
As Tamsyn continues to make positive progress in her recovery, and is learning to drive an electric wheelchair, walk up to 10m with her walking frame, and eat small portions of food without assistance, Mr Cansdell is encouraging people to chip in via a GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/tamsyn-mcconnell-family to help support the teenager and her family.
“She still can’t talk much, but there are small gains every week,” Mr Cansdell said.
“It is incredibly tough on the McConnell family, with mum Tiffany by her daughter’s side in Sydney, and her dad having to quit his job to look after the other five children.”
On October 14, Mr Cansdell will seek to set a new World Record by delivering an astonishing 15500 hits at a rate of more than 4.3 hits per second for sixty minutes to throw 225000 punches at a bag to help raise awareness of Tamsyn’s plight.
Mr Cansdell’s determination to set a new World Record for the most solid contact punches landed in one hour on a punching bag by a male over 65 years of age will be monitored by Australia boxing officials.
“This is not for me, it is for Tamsyn,” Mr Cansdell said.
“It would be great if people can show up for the event, but what the family really needs is a little bit of cash support so they can remain together and support this wonderful teenager’s recovery.
The story has attracted national and international attention with Channel Seven showing an interest and donations coming from as far away as Switzerland.
Mr Cansdell said there will be a second punching bag set up on the stage, and he is inviting attendees to punch on alongside him as he aims to set a new World Record.
“I’d love to see other people get up and give it a go, and make the event more entertaining,” he said.
The World Record attempt is scheduled to take place this Saturday at Roches Hotel at 9.30am.