A FUNDRAISER has been set up to keep Tariq Khan’s boxing gym open in his memory.

Scores of people paid tribute to the 36-year-old dad of four, known to many as Cuzzy, after he was tragically killed in a crash on Wednesday.

Now, one friend is trying to raise money to keep Pound 4 Pound open to continue Tariq’s legacy.

Asim Iqbal, who met Tariq through a mutual friend six years ago, is determined to see the gym’s doors reopen.

He said: “Cuzzy was a genuinely fantastic person to be around. He was always making people laugh and if any one needed any help with anything he was there.

“”He was a fantastic father, the love and effort he put into them was phenomenal. To see his children now is heartbreaking, his eldest is 12 and they’ve lost such an amazing dad.

“It’s a massive loss for the community, it’s a real shock, he was still a young man.

“When you lose someone like that in your area you really do feel it.

“Pound 4 Pound was his dream and he made that a reality, even when there were set backs, he was so determined to make it work.

“It’s devastating to know that he’s never going to see those doors open again, and it would be a discredit to him and everything he worked for to let them stay closed.”

The gym on Sidney Street opened on February 2, and offered a variety of classes targeted at men, women, and children.

Inside the space, Tariq had also set up a crèche and some entertainment pods, places for slightly older children to watch Netflix whilst their parents trained.

Mr Iqbal intends to work alongside Tariq's family and those involved with the gym to explore funding and grants that could be available to keep the gym running.

He added: “It doesn’t matter if you can't donate, even just sharing the appeal to get the exposure and make sure that people know about the gym and what it does will help.

“It was a community gym and he worked so hard to give people a place to go. There’s a lot of deprived adults and children and that gym was there for them to channel their energy and keep them off the streets.

“There are a lot of young people who need guidance and direction and Tariq’s work at the gym was a prime example of what can be done to help the community.

“It wasn’t just a gym, there were people who would go in just to have a chat, he organised charity events and classes too.

“He worked so hard for that place so the last thing that we would want is to see those doors close forever.”

“His family have just lost someone that can’t ever be replaced, but keeping the gym open will remind them of who he was and make sure that part of him lives on.

Visit gofundme.com/f/200j4htzuo for more information about Pound 4 Pound and to donate.