‘No one more deserving’: Far North mum gives her van to boxing coach Zap De Jong after his was stolen

A good Samaritan boxing coach, who trains at-risk kids for free, was devastated when his van was stolen, until a grateful mother answered his prayers.

Edmonton mother and equine therapist Sophia Senior (right) hands the keys of her eight-seater van over to Do It Boxing athlete Leah Reuben (left), supported by Zap De Jong and the Do It Boxing crew. Picture: Zap De Jong

A Far North mum has gifted a van to the boxing coach who “saved” her son, after his vehicle was stolen and destroyed.

Good Samaritan boxing coach Zap De Jong, who trains at-risk children for free five nights a week, was devastated when the van he used to ferry his students to and from training was stolen in April.

Zap De Jong with his Do It Boxing students. Picture: Zap De Jong

After 16 years of running Do It Boxing, Mr De Jong was forced to cancel all training due to the stolen vehicle, which was taken from the front of his Wrights Creek home, and found dumped in Gordonvale five days later.

“Losing the van didn’t mean much to me. It was the kids who were missing out because I couldn’t pick them up and take them to training that really upset me,” Mr De Jong said.

“We were lucky to find the van, but it was totally wrecked after being driven through a canefield and then abandoned.

Zap De Jong's van was discovered by his friend on cane rail tracks near the Greenpatch Campground in Gordonvale. Picture: Zap De Jong

“The clutch was completely burned down and I think they put unleaded fuel in it, which has mucked up the engine, so it’s not really worth repairing.”

Mr De Jong had just started a GoFundMe to raise money for a new van when his prayers were answered by Edmonton mother Sophia Senior.

“For years I trained her eldest son,” Mr De Jong said.

“Within a week of having the GoFundMe up she reached out and said she had an eight-seater van which she was happy to give to us.

“It’s just fantastic. I never thought there would be people out there who would just gift me a vehicle.

Sophia Senior and her eldest son, Bailey, at a boxing tournament under the coaching of Zap De Jong. Picture: Sophia Senior

“We’ve now got six kids in training for the Cairns Box Cup tournament which is coming up in a few weeks, and they’re just so excited to be in training again.”

The mother of four said no one deserved the van more than Mr De Jong.

“A few years ago my son was going down the wrong path and Zap took him under his wing,” Ms Senior said.

“Not only did (Mr De Jong) train him in boxing, but he mentally trained and mentored him.

“Zap’s not just a trainer, he’s really effective in bettering the community and he doesn’t get enough credit for it.

“I wasn’t really using the van anymore, so when I saw that his was stolen I knew that he deserved it more than anyone.”

Bailey competed in several Far North boxing tournaments under the coaching of Zap De Jong. Picture: Supplied by Sophia Senior

Zap De Jong is still accepting donations to cover fuel and maintenance costs as his students gear up to compete in the Cairns Box Cup on June 7.

Originally published as ‘No one more deserving’: Far North mum gives her van to boxing coach Zap De Jong after his was stolen