A MAN won a charity boxing match last weekend as a tribute to his mum and the long mental health journey he has been on.
The charity boxing match, which took place at Liverpool Olympia on Saturday, July 16, is the first of a trio of challenges that Daniel Hodges has chosen to undertake this year.
Daniel, from Eccleston, has completed numerous challenges over the years, with a focus on raising money for mental health charities and organisations that support people going through difficult periods.
After a bout of severe depression led to a suicide attempt in 2018, these challenges serve as a constant reminder of how he has turned his life around.
Recovering to a "much better place", the employment and engagement manager is now dedicated to changing his life, his mindset, and doing what he can to help others through similar problems.
On Saturday’s white-collar charity boxing night, Daniel’s fight was one of 28 that were all raising money for Cancer Research.
He dedicated his training and fundraising to his mum, who has lost friends and family members to cancer and helped Daniel along his road to recovery.
Calling himself 'Mr St Helens' for the night, Daniel beat his opponent James 'The Tipsy King' Matthews by a unanimous decision and helped to raise £1000 for the charity.
Collectively, the fighters raised almost £5000 for Cancer Research.
Daniel said: “Cancer is something that has affected everyone in some capacity, so I was happy to glove up and do my bit.
“Obviously my Mum has had a death in the family due to it, so getting the win made it even more special.
“I have already started training for my next challenge (Berlin Marathon) and will be looking to organise two fundraisers for Willowbrook Hospice in the form of a Curry Night and a Community Marathon around St Helens, which will hopefully involve as much as the St Helens community as possible.”
Following Daniel’s boxing challenge, he will now run the Berlin Marathon in September for Willowbrook Hospice and then climb Mount Kilimanjaro in October for the Standing Tall Foundation.
To raise further money for Daniel’s fundraiser and Cancer Research, you can visit this link.
To donate towards Willowbrook Hospice you can do so here, and for the Standing Tall Foundation here.
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