Gala dinner to be held in boxer Ricky Hatton’s memory as former manager pays emotional tribute to Manchester legend

After the loss of boxer Ricky Hatton, manager and friend, Paul Speak, began The Ricky Hatton Foundation to raise awareness for mental health and ensure no on fights alone.

The original plan was to begin the foundation while Ricky was alive, but due to Ricky’s busy schedule, the timing was just never quite right.

In an exclusive interview, with NQ, Paul Speak has disclosed that many events are being planned and discussed within the foundation for when they reach charitable status. These include a gala dinner to officially launch the foundation, a charity boxing night, auctions, and a potentially televised charity football match to raise awareness.

The foundation is also trying to launch a first aid course in mental health that will be free to access with advice from a professional doctor. Paul urges those who want to organise fundraising events, donate money or creative pieces to reach out through the website as fundraising packages can be offered to those who are interested.

Art enthusiast and Ricky Hatton fan Jayne Sale had two pieces of art commissioned by a local Manchester artist, James Keldey, and has since donated them to The Ricky Hatton Foundation. One solo pencil drawing of Ricky Hatton and the other, an oil pastel drawing of the famous Ricky Hatton vs Kotstya Tszyu boxing match. The future of these pieces is yet unclear, but they will contribute towards the fundraising for the foundation.

Paul spoke highly of Ricky Hatton’s impact on society and the local community.

 “He wasn’t afraid to admit that life is tough sometimes, and when you’re down you need help, and he made it safe for people to say, ‘I don’t feel good today, I need help.’ And if we can continue that legacy, that people can benefit,” he said.

“We just hope that down the line, you know, we can help more people and the foundation, that’s what it’s geared for, to help people. I know for a fact that he’s actually saved lives, because I know people have come to me, and they’ve told me that, you know, they were in a dark place, they spoke with Ricky, and they’re still here as a result of advice that he gave them.”

Paul has fond memories of his friend, saying: “We had a relationship a bit like a married couple, where we would be on the phone each day, we would see each other most weeks. We had such a tight relationship, so I am lost and empty and I miss him.”

Paul urged those who would are suffering with their mental health to use the resources on attached to their website, emergency numbers such as 999 and 111, Samaritans or Shout Crisis Text Line. The website also features a mental health guide for men who are struggling with further advice and resources including Andy’s Man Club, weekly face-to-face support groups for men, Men Who Talk, an online support group for men, and Say It Lad, inviting men to record an anonymous voice note and get a voice note back from  another man, it is not a form of therapy but a safe outlet to feel safe and be heard.

Paul Speak’s message to anyone struggling with their mental health is that “you don’t have to battle it on your own, no one needs to fight alone.”

For further information or advice check out The Ricky Hatton Foundation social media pages or website www.rickyhattonfoundation.com