Boxing bouts to help cancer battle

CHALLENGE . . . Michelle Plevin and Jonathan Phillips training at Stubby's Boxing Gym

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TWO Get Oldham Working employees are hoping their boxing fundraiser will be a knock-out for Maggie's Oldham when they take to the ring this week.

Michelle Plevin and Jonathan Phillips have signed up to Ultra White Collar Boxing, which gives complete beginners the chance to take up the sport, get fit and raise money for charity.

Novice boxers Michelle and Jonathan are busy training hard for their fights, which take place on Friday at Rollercity in Oldham.

Mother-of-five Michelle said: "Due to a lack of nutritional advice and exercise, my weight rocketed and I put on four stone, which led to depression and made my self-worth very low.

"I went to Darren Stubbs for advice on my weight as my son has been with his club for many years and took on the boxing challenge on December 27."

She added: "Training has made me realise how much I love exercise. When I first started, I couldn't even do a squat, now I can do 50 at a time when needed.

"I am very excited about using my new skills as my new hobby has left me feeling on top of the world."

All her hard work has paid off, with Michelle losing three stone since December and dropping from a size 22 to a size 14.

She is now teaming up with her boss Jonathan Phillips to put her new-found boxing skills to good use and raise money for Maggie's Oldham.

Michelle, who won her first fight at a Pink Boxing event, is enjoying her training at Stubby's Boxing Gym and is looking forward to the challenge.

She said: "There are times when the training is tough, but I just ride through it and look into what I have already achieved. Without Darren Stubbs though, I would still be the same size with no goals or ambition. He has honestly helped me every step of the way.

"The boxing events are a great way to increase my skills and I like to keep pushing my goals.

"I am hoping to do as many events as I can because I want to raise as much money as possible.

"I have had friends and family affected by cancer, including a close family friend who died recently, and it has made me more determined to raise as much as physically possible to help the people where I live."

Married father-of-two Jonathan, 38, is also keen to raise as much as he can for the charity despite never boxing before starting training with Michelle this year.

Jonathan, manager of the Get Oldham Working programme, said: "The boxing gym has been more than supportive, providing great coaching and one-to-one support to learn the technique of boxing as well as getting fit.

"I feel I have come on really well just in two weeks and hopefully be ready for the match on May 12, even though I haven't done any boxing before."

Jonathan, who has been diagnosed as type 1 diabetic, said his boxing training has also helped him focus more, improve his productivity and even manage his health better.

He said: "I took on the challenge with encouragement from Michelle and Darren and to give me leverage to do high-intensity training.

"I have had friends and family affected by cancer. However the main reason is to support Michelle's choice in charity, which is a great cause."

To donate to their cause visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Michelle-Plevin

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