4 weeks ago, I had never worn a pair of boxing gloves. In less than 4 weeks time I will be climbing into the ring in front of around 500 people taking part in a White Collar Boxing event; 17 November at Mere Golf & Country Club. This is proper boxing. It will hurt. It already has.

The training (and pain) for this has been intense. I have been training between 8 and 10 times per week, and that increases for the final 4 weeks. I have had a bloodied nose, a black eye, bruised ribs and a suspected broken finger already. That is only going to get worse.

I am again raising money for the amazing Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital – the largest children’s hospital in the country. The Children’s Hospital has a real place in my heart after my 5 day old daughter's life was saved by these nurses. I want to do whatever I can to help to save more – including getting hit. The hospital has 100s of initiatives to help these children forget where they are, and why they are there. That makes a real difference and makes small faces smile again.

Please sponsor me for whatever you can – every single penny goes straight to help the children, no admin costs are taken out. Help me to help them make a difference.

This time last year, 1000s of people, most of them tabloid-story believing Daily Mail readers, would have paid to see me get hit. Now is their chance.

Thank you.

Gary