As you can see from the photo, I started young. Many black eyes later, and at an age when I should be breaking sweat only on a croquet lawn or over a chess board, I'm stepping into the ring for three rounds of boxing at the Grange St Paul's Hotel on 27 October.
But all in a very good cause...
Please sponsor me and raise much needed cash for the Downside Fisher Youth Club, which supports socially excluded children and young people from Bermondsey and neighbouring areas. The club helps these youngster to fulfil their potential through a wide range of sporting, artistic and recreational activities.
My fight is dedicated to the memory of Jean Mercier, a tennis coach and good friend who firmly believed in the power of sport to help people of all ages. Jean was adopted from an orphanage in India, grew up in Belgium and taught tennis for 15 years at the SWIFT Sports Centre in La Hulpe. He helped many young people to develop their talent and achieve their potential, and always with a winning smile and a great sense of fun. Jean would have been the first person to applaud the aims of the Downside Fisher Youth Club.
Jean, this one's for you.
