A DETERMINED fundraiser is using his limited spare time to train for two major fundraising events later this month in aid of Myton Hospice.
Andy Houghton spends most of his evenings training for not one but two charity events to help raise funds for the hospice.
The senior staff nurse will firstly join more than 300 rowers for this year’s Dragon Boat Race at Warwick Boat Centre before moving out of the water and into the ring for an amateur boxing bout at The Alan Higgs Centre.
With the aim of raising £1,000, Andy will be donating all of the money raised to the hospice – and his charity mission starts on Sunday (September 18) with the boat race.
Andy will join more than 300 rowers for the Dragon Boat Race as 24 teams of 16 rowers race against each other down the River Avon in aid of The Myton Hospices and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Less than a week later, he’ll then box in the ring in an attempt to raise further funds on Saturday (September 24).
Andy said his job as a senior nurse has seen him witness first-hand the difference donations make.
He added: “I decided to sign up for both Fight for Dignity and the Dragon Boat Race because all proceeds are going to Myton.
“All of our care at Myton is provided free of charge and we need to raise over £8 million each year to continue providing these services.”
Sunday’s Dragon Boat Race won’t come as something new to the nurse though, as he competed in the popular event last year.
He said: “I am looking forward to this year’s event, especially because it is set to be even bigger than last year.
“I wanted to take part in the Fight for Dignity boxing match because I know 29 other fighters were willing to give up their time and train for the next four months to compete and I felt inspired to do the same.
“My free time has been taken up with training which involves running five times a week, weight and strength conditioning four times a week and sparring at Bell Green boxing club.
“I have a boxing trainer whose Mum sadly died at Myton Hospice several years ago and he has really supported me throughout my training.”
To support Andy’s charity goal of raising £1,000, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Sara-Houghton-Hill or call Trevor on 07793 730505 for tickets to the boxing event.
