Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am taking part in a boxing match on Friday 1st April 2022. My coach, Barry, has tried to rope me into a proper fight for a while, and I finally gave in; now that I have set this page up (and got my shorts designed), there's no turning back.

And this is a proper amateur fight (not a white collar fight, and no headguards etc)! I will be fighting another boxer from another gym that I am matched up with (I'll find out exactly who in due course).

Neither my girlfriend, nor my mother are happy about me "putting myself in harms way", so my plan is to win, and hang up the gloves with an unbeaten 1-0-0 record. 

I am raising money (and awareness) for the Down's Syndrome Association (DSA), so please do donate whatever you can, large or small. Either you'll be supporting me to win, or paying to see someone punch me in the face! Either way I don't mind!

A bit of background to the DSA and why I am raising money for them:

As many of you will know, my little sister Hanaa has Down's Syndrome; for those of you who have met her, you’ll agree she's an exceptional individual. Very independent, fun loving, smart, funny, kind hearted, driven (I could go on and on). However, there are obviously certain challenges which she has encountered as she's grown up and navigated the real world. Since finishing her course at college, she was very keen to get into the job market and worked at a few different places (all at intern level), in order to gain experience and confidence. She also had a year's work experience at Charing Cross Hospital which she found extremely rewarding. However, it was extremely difficult to find a paid job which would provide her with all the experience and responsibility that we have all been used to growing up. 

Enter the Down's Syndrome Association (DSA). The DSA is the only charity in the UK dealing with all aspects of Down's syndrome. Their mission statement is simple: "To enable people who have Down's syndrome to live full and rewarding lives". Please visit their website to see all the amazing work they do: https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk

And enter specifically the Down's Syndrome "Workfit" program (and a special shout out to an incredible lady called Alison Thwaite). DS Workfit match jobseekers with Down's syndrome, with employers who have jobs to offer. They work closely with organisations and provide amazing ongoing support to both the candidate and the company, even after successfully landing a job. Hanaa has always been confident and independent, but over the past year we have seen her grow into an amazing young woman, and a lot of this is down to the support that the DSA have provided. And I know there are thousands of others around the country who have had similar experiences, not only via the "Workfit" program, but also on a wider level through the DSA in all aspects of life.

So all the money raised will go to DSA to help them continue their amazing, selfless work and help more individuals with Down's Syndrome to lead a full and rewarding life.

Hanaa now works for GXO. They are a logistics firm who work on behalf of many brands you would have heard of. If you have ever bought something from Matches Fashion, it is likely Hanaa has helped fulfil your order!

I'll update this as much as I can with progress, pictures, updates etc and I hope a lot of you will join on the evening as it should be good fun!

I truly appreciate any support you can give whatsoever, and thank you!

https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk