TAN'S STORY:

I first found out about the Lily Foundation Boxing Fight Night through a friend of mine who partook in the event last year - the idea being a huge 'Fight Night' of fund raising and awareness with charity boxing matches between people who are completely new to the sport.

The idea of putting on gloves and getting punched to raise money was not the first idea that jumped to mind admittedly-  I normally prefer running to raise money, plus I'm not in danger of losing any teeth.  However I can honestly say for a cause such as The Lily Foundation, a charity that helps raise awareness of mitochondrial disease, including support for families affected by this disease, it was a no-brainer that I try out boxing for the first time in my life. It just seemed like an amazing opportunity, and in terms of getting into shape, probably just the kick-up-the-backside that I needed!

I applied not thinking I would get a chance, but to my slight dread admittedly, I got a reply saying I had been selected for 'Fight Night' - and that I needed an opponent. I decided to pick an old friend and a fellow doctor, Mo Ahmed - he agreed, and so amazingly we're due to fight three rounds against each other on Thursday April 27th in Clapham Grand in front of hundreds of people, and with Sky Sports commentating! It'll be gloves, helmets, gum shields, proper ring and ref, intros, walk-ons, the whole lot! 

My aim is to not only raise £1000 for The Lily Foundation but also to get as many friends and family down for the event on the night to make it a cracking atmosphere.

Please donate whatever you can to the cause, I have already started my boxing and physical training in earnest - this also includes putting the Rocky soundtrack every morning during my shower...

To raise £1000 would be an absolute dream, fighting an old friend over three rounds probably the most surreal and crazy thing I've dragged him into doing, but it'll be worth it I'm sure. I have NO IDEA who's going to come out on top out of myself and Mo, I'd say we're evenly matched, so it'll be a thriller of a match no doubt! On that note:

"Let's get reaaadddyyyyyyy too RUUUUUMBBBBBBBBLE!!!!"

(always wanted to do that)

MO'S STORY:

Lllllllets get rrrrrrready to rrrrrrrrrrumbblllllle! 

Folks, it gives me great pleasure to announce that I'll be getting into the ring with my good friend Tan Mustafa for a rumble in the jungle, a tussle with some muscle ... or a pair of skinny bangers trying to hit each other for CHARITY. 

I can't promise a Thrilla in Manila or a Fight of the Century, but 'Mo Money Mo Problems Ahmed' VS 'Tan  'The Jaw Cracker From Dhaka'' Mustafa promises to be a once in a lifetime spectacle. We've been training for the last few weeks and we'll be getting in the ring on 27th April at The Clapham Grand. Sky Sports commentary team will be there and it will no doubt be a fantastic night. 

Why are we willing to take one on the chin? 

Well it's all in aid of The Lilly Foundation. It was set up by an incredible lady, Liz Curtis, a few years a ago after she lost her daughter, Lily, to a rare disorder called Mitochondrial Disease. Liz found that she was all at sea whilst dealing with her daughters terminal illness and that there was very little support for sufferers and families involved. There was a dearth of information and research investment into this disorder. The Lily Foundation aims to shed more light on Mitochondrial disease, create a support network for sufferers and family and provide much needed funding for this area of medical research. It has been running for 5 years now and the annual Charity Boxing Match is one of the highlight fundraisers for the Foundation.

So finally, I'll ask you to delve into your pockets and please please donate to this great cause. As a thank you we'll start posting some pics and videos of our training as we approach fight night. There will be plenty of trash talk, lots of blood, sweat and tears and a brilliant night of jabs, hooks and uppercuts. We've included the just giving page link for donations (it's just a few simple clicks), the link to Lily Foundation and for those of you wanting to be there on the night a link with ticketing info.

Get in touch with us regarding if you want to come down and watch, but please donate what you can in the link on this page!! It's going to be one hell of a night.

TICKETS LINK:

https://www.designmynight.com/london/clubs/clapham/the-clapham-grand/fight-night-v-for-the-lily-foundation?t=tickets

For more info on The Lily Foundation: http://www.thelilyfoundation.org.uk

For more info on Fight Night tickets, click here: http://www.thelilyfoundation.org.uk/Support-us/find-event/events/