I am doing something crazy again, except this time this is so far out of my comfort zone it scares the living daylights out of me (I mean it could end up with the living daylights being taken out of me too). However, this feeling is nothing to what our friend and neighbour Mike and his family have gone through.

Mike Crofts fought 2 forms of cancer (both stage 4) in March 2023. He was put in palliative care at the Countess of Brecknock Hospice in Andover in May. That was when we had to, very emotionally, say goodbye to a man who had always been there.

Being the man he was he fought as hard as he could, leaving Brecknock to do everything available to battle his cancer in Basingstoke for 2 rounds of treatment and then 4 rounds of chemo at Guys Hospital in London. A PET scan then revealed the cancer had spread to his brain and he underwent a more aggressive chemo in Basingstoke.

He was sent home to say goodbye to all those who loved him and be in the comfort of this own home for his final days. Here I had the privilege of saying goodbye with laughter and tears and also sharing this event I am doing with him, saying I would continue to do it in his memory. On the 20th December 2023 Mike lost his battle and his loss is felt by all who knew him.

Mike was a larger than life character and so selfless, helping anyone he can around the village. He has also supported me personally through all of my charity endeavours, from IRONMAN, to walking the Test Way in a day. As well as that we have shared many laughs and living next to one another some drunken jumping over the fence with a G&T or rose in hand! I want to show my support the only way I can by throwing myself, literally, into the ring!

Please give anything you can to help motivate my training. I will only have 8 weeks and I am a TOTAL boxing novice. I don't watch it and have never done it. I began a few tasting boxing sessions and have already found the technical training super hard with my lack of coordination skills. I am not joking when I say this is the scariest thing I am going to ever take on, the lack of ability and self confidence is something I am trying desperately to find. Also, as a very non-aggressive person, I am saying sorry every time I throw a shot!

If you would also like to support/watch me take a hit (or maybe throw one without saying sorry) on the night then please let me know and I can send you a link to buy tickets, or add you to a table if numbers are there, for a whole night of inspiring charity boxing.

The Countess of Brecknock Hospice provides respite and palliative care to adults suffering from life-limiting illness who live in Andover and its surrounding villages or who have a connection with the area, together with comfort and support for their families, friends and carers. They are hugely reliant on voluntary donations to maintain the exceptionally high standard of services and care they provide. Put simply, if we don't support the Hospice, it won't be there to help when it is needed.

Thank you all!

Hollie x