MARTIAL artists took a break from throwing each other last weekend, instead throwing a party at the Martial Art World summer fair.

Club members and families packed out the club’s Sports Academy, in Portway, to enjoy craft stalls, sweet stalls, homemade cakes and a raffle with prizes provided by various local businesses.

The fair was helped in aid of the SAM (Smiles and Memories) fund. The charity provides chronically sick or disabled children the chance to spend quality time with their families on an all-expenses-paid holiday of a lifetime, and more than £500 was raised on the day.

Kris Bonthuys, programme director at Martial Art World, said: “It was a great day and what was really nice was a lot of our local artisans supported the fayre by having stalls and also local business have kindly donated vouchers for their businesses.

“So for example Cross Sports Massage Therapy provided a voucher for a sports massage, and Andover Tyres donated a free MOT so that’s gone down really well with the guys.

“It’s about helping families and children but also the community was all working together. That’s quite a big part of the ethos with Martial Arts World. Of course we do martial arts but we have got a really close community that get involved doing some really good work.

“Thanks to everyone that supported the charity on the day. It’s just a good thing to do. It’s about doing good and by everybody doing something small, we make a big difference.”