Martial arts champion, Roxy, punching above her weight to compete internationally

Roxy Spiller, aged 10 from Payhembury, is on her way to compete at the Tae Kwon Do International European Championships in Croatia on 8th May, thanks to the generosity of local businesses and people in her community.

Roxy is a red belt with Honiton TAGB Tae Kwon Do and has been training since November 2015, following in the footsteps of her brother Cain. She soon discovered a passion for the art and has achieved A passes at all gradings under grading examiner Grand Master Michael Dew 9th Degree Black Belt.

At yellow belt Roxy decided to start entering competitions in both patterns and free sparring and now regularly competes at both local and national level. She holds numerous titles, including South West, Southern, Welsh, English and British Championships but her highest honour to date is being crowned World Champion at the TKDI World Championships in 2018.

Roxy has been training all over the South West in preparation for the competition and is feeling nervous but excited to be competing at an international level at the event. The European Championships held over two days May 11-12, with over 600 competitors attending from as far away as Argentina. Regardless if she wins a medal or not Roxy is determined to learn from the experience and is looking forward to making new Tae Kwon Do friends.

Roxy and her parents leave for Croatia on Wednesday 8th May to arrive in time for weigh in on Friday. This trip will be Roxy's first time on an aeroplane, but it will be a short trip as she is coming home from Croatia on Sunday evening to go straight back to school complete her SATS exam.

In addition to the donations received from local businesses and her Go Fund Me page Roxy also arranged a car boot sale and a raffle, which raised over £300 towards her trip.

Roxy and her family have been overwhelmed by the support she has received in helping her achieve her dream and would like to thank everyone who has donated to her Go Fund Me page, and the following local businesses for the generous donations: Honiton TAGB Tae Kwon Do, Payhembury Provisions, Honiton and District Lions Club, Otter Valley Rotary Club, SWComms, T & T Coachworks, Gilletts Spar Feniton, Penny Jones Mortgages, Six Bells Inn Payhembury, The Studio Hair and Beauty Payhembury, Dreams Box, iBounce Exeter, Butcombe Brewery, PartyLine with Becki.

For more information on Honiton TAGB Tae Kwon Do please visit our Facebook page @honitontkd, visit www.trytaekwondo.co.uk or call 07824 777216.