{"id":28102,"date":"2015-11-16T14:56:31","date_gmt":"2015-11-16T14:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jomec.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=28102"},"modified":"2015-11-16T14:56:31","modified_gmt":"2015-11-16T14:56:31","slug":"cardiff-character-gareth-seward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2015\/11\/16\/cardiff-character-gareth-seward\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardiff Character: Gareth Seward"},"content":{"rendered":"

The world is full of unsung heroes. People that live their lives trying to help others in any way they can without any thought of recognition or reward. Gareth Seward is one such man.\u00a0When asked if there were any rules he tried to live by, Gareth replied:\u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t cause harm, injury or loss. I\u2019m me, you\u2019re you, why can\u2019t we just live and let live?\u201d<\/p>\n

Born and raised in Cardiff, professional boxing has been Gareth’s life for a long time. From competing in his teens to coaching the sport in his twenties, Gareth has recently taken early retirement due to the closure of his gym. He now works as a facility technician at Cardiff and Vale College and spends his free time working on projects to help local causes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gareth

Dressed in tracksuit bottoms and a black t-shirt and fleece, the 35-year-old is entirely unassuming about the role he plays in trying to help those worse off than him. \u201cI just like to think that if I was in a position as you see some in; there would be someone who would be willing to help me,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

Helping the common man<\/strong><\/p>\n

Early retirement has allowed Gareth more opportunities to help those in need. Of his own volition he spends his spare time tackling subjects such as finance and law which he then condenses into free presentations to better explain wordy concepts to everyday folk: \u201cI don\u2019t charge for them because I believe information should be free\u2026 it\u2019s just information that I try to decipher into English so that people like me, the common man, can understand it.\u201d<\/p>\n

At these presentations collection buckets are made available to support local causes. But it was a news story last year that convinced Gareth he needed to contribute in a more substantial way: \u201cI saw an article last Christmas that was about the Cardiff Nightshelter being in dire straits because of council cuts and it angers me because there is no need for anyone to be in poverty or to be homeless.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

“I’m a nobody, I’m just one man, I know I can’t change the world”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Gareth has done a number of events over the years to raise money, the most recent being the Show for the Shelter. The show, held at The Gate Arts Centre, featured musical acts, dramatisations and spoken word pieces by artists Gareth knows personally. He organised the event and everyone gave their time for free so that all of the proceeds went to the Cardiff\u00a0Nightshelter, which is run by\u00a0The Wallich Charity.<\/p>\n

Gareth smiles and says he found the experience to be the most fulfilling feeling he\u2019s ever had.\u201cI\u2019m a nobody, I\u2019m just one man, I know I can\u2019t change the world but I just like to do what I can within my power to help people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hating the world<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Part of what drives Gareth is his anger at the worlds injustice. He passionately believes that\u00a0society has been conditioned to ignore individuals and small causes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is going to sound terrible but, I hate the world,\u201d laughs Gareth. He sits forward and explains how it\u2019s become fashionable to donate to certain larger charities such as Help the Heroes and Children in Need. He insists that these charities shouldn\u2019t even exist because care should be being provided as standard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite his anger, Gareth never ceases to put his point across politely and calmly. He believes firmly that by donating to local charities you can see where your money is going and know that it\u2019s making\u00a0the world of difference to someone, even if all that means is that they have a bed or hot meal for just one night.<\/p>\n

\"Gareth

In the video below Gareth explains some of the difficulties he had in persuading people to support the Show for the Shelter.<\/h3>\n