Sheffield's late boxing legend Brendan Ingle continues to inspire people to new heights

Stephen Culf, pictured with his instructor, during his skydive in aid of the Brendan Ingle Foundation

A garage manager from Rotherham conquered a crippling fear of heights to complete a skydive in Brendan's memory and ensure his legacy of helping young people through sport lives on.

Stephen Culf once had a panic attack atop Blackpool Tower so it took a lot to get the 44-year-old father-of-two to leap from a plane thousands of feet above London.

Brendan's daughters Bridget and Tara, and their friend Marion Glazier, completed a 28-mile sponsored walk through the Peak District for the Brendan Ingle Foundation

Brendan Ingle 'people's memorial' to include public square and walkway

Stephen's father-in-law Eddie Barraclough was a professional boxer and a good friend of Brendan's.

His eldest daughter Isobel attends Wickersley School & Sports College, where Brendan's foundation works with children at risk of social exclusion, and she recently got the chance to visit the Wincobank gym where he trained future world champions.

Brendan Ingle with his former protege 'Prince' Naseem Hamed

"I hate flying and once had a panic attack at the top of Blackpool Tower but this is something I wanted to do and it was great to be able to do it in Brendan's memory.

"You heard a lot during his lifetime about the champions Brendan coached but less about the fantastic stuff he did to give underprivileged children goals and hope in life, and it's important that work continues."

He completed the skydive on Saturday, July 7 and has so far raised £720.

Brendan's daughters Tara and Bridget, meanwhile, completed a 28-mile sponsored walk through the Peak District for his foundation with their friend Marion Glazier on Saturday, July 14.

The trio raised nearly £2,600 from the trek, which they completed in seven-and-a-half hours despite the stifling heat.

Brendan's widow Alma, who is a trustee of the foundation, thanked Stephen and the others for their efforts, adding: "It is important we all pull together during this difficult time to carry on Brendan's work with young people, as it's what he would have wanted.'

Bridget said: "The fundraising has been going well since Dad died, and the money will go towards funding holiday club sessions which will include boxing, gymnastics and dance lessons - the combination of which he considered important for the development of balance, coordination, flexibility and reflexes."

A fundraising appeal was this month launched to create a statue and public square in Brendan's memory, along with a new walkway linking Wincobank and Meadowhall.

* To donate to the Brendan Ingle Foundation, visit https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/thebrendaninglefoundation.

* To donate to the memorial appeal, via the foundation, visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/annemurphy1.