Member Article

Stepping into the ring in memory of mum

Memories of his mother will be the inspiration for a Salix Homes maintenance operative who will be stepping into the boxing ring for the first time.

PJ Hall is strapping on his gloves on Saturday, June 25 at the Ultra White Collar Boxing exhibition, held at Manchester’s Bowlers Exhibition Centre, to help raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

The Eccles resident is undergoing a crash-course, eight-week training regime and is busy fundraising in memory of Katherine Hall, who lost her short battle with cancer four years ago.

The 24-year-old, who will take to the ring in front of hundreds on the night against a fellow novice, hopes his effort will deliver a knockout blow to cancer.

He said: “I wanted to do something out of the ordinary and totally out of my comfort zone. Parachuting out of plane was the first thing that cropped into my head, but I saw a Facebook post for this event – and thought why not?

“It’s tough and I’m definitely being put through the paces. I was worried it was going to be something I would hate, but I’m bizarrely enjoying it.

“Almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer. Yes, this event is tough, but not even close to what people going through cancer have to go through.”

Robyn Johnson, marketing manager at Ultra White Collar Boxing said: “UWCB is a unique opportunity for people with no boxing background to experience the wonderful world of boxing, in a safe and enjoyable environment.

“Participants get involved for the same reasons; to get fit, learn a new sport, gain a real sense of achievement and to reach their own personal goals.”

Around 30 novices will take part in the exhibition, run by Ultra White Collar Boxing, an organisation that has hosted hundreds of these events over the last six years. It is Cancer Research’s biggest UK fundraiser – raising over £2.2million alone in 2015 – £4.3m in total.

Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research. It receives no government funding and every step it makes towards beating cancer relies on every pound donated by members of the public.

If you would like to donate towards PJ’s cause, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pj-hall

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Hayley Collins .