Kickboxing champ Tass Tsitsiras, left, will take to the ring as Dani Walker and Bill Nikolakos help raise funds for assault victim Ben Thompson.Picture: Stewart Chambers.
By Sarah Schwager
A DANDENONG gym owner is helping raise funds for a Cranbourne man left in a coma after he was assaulted in June.
Boxing trainer and owner of Shark’s Gym in Dandenong Bill Nikolakos started rounding up his forces when he heard what happened to his former tenant, Ben Thompson.
Mr Thompson was punched to the face outside his and girlfriend Dani Walker’s home, owned by Mr Nikolakos, on 27 June as they were moving house, causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the concrete.
The 22-year-old was left with an acquired brain injury (ABI) and while at first in a vegetative state, can now only make limited communication and movement.
He is still a patient at trauma hospital The Alfred, and Mr Thompson’s family are desperately trying to find a place for him in a rehabilitation facility.
However, it is looking more and more likely that Mr Thompson will be placed in a nursing home, along with 6500 other young people across Australia, according to the Young People In Nursing Homes National Alliance.
To help raise funds for the family, Mr Nikolakos has organised a fundraising auction at a kickboxing tournament at QBH in the city next month.
He is donating a cricket bat signed by Don Bradman, while other donations include various signed football jumpers, gloves from famous fighters and kickboxers, and the most prized item, a replica WBC Mohammed Ali belt.
“My sister owns a nursing home, and they won’t take those victims,” Mr Nikolakos said.
“I ring once a week to find out how he’s doing and there’s almost no change.
“The kickboxing tournament is a very corporate show so hopefully a few tables will donate. And those things (auction items) can fetch a lot of money.
“I hope it does help because (Mr Thompson) needs massive physio. It’s ridiculous.”
Local fighters Tass Tsitsiras, Jason Vella and Spencer Davey have also thrown their support behind Mr Thompson.
Ms Walker said while Mr Thompson was making lots of gains at the moment, his family was still having trouble finding a place for him in rehabilitation.
“I haven’t stopped believing that he’s going to recover. I still have hope, but there is so much unknown,” she said.
“While he is improving, he needs interaction and rehab now, not in six months when he has fallen by the wayside, his muscles wasted away, and it is too late.”
The kickboxing tournament and fundraising auction will be held on Sunday 18 November at QBH, 1 Queensbridge Street, Southbank, from 5.30pm.
Tickets are from $40 and can be bought through 0412 471 471.
People can also donate to the Benjamin Thompson Trust Fund at any Bendigo Bank.
For more information contact Star on 5945 0666.
