A Wimblington dad is preparing for his first boxing match at a charity event that sees amateur novices get in the ring to raise money for Cancer Research.

Tony Meads is getting involved in memory of his grandad.

He said: “My story is pretty insignificant to some other people I know personally. They have lost loved ones that were taken from them far too soon.

“I lost my grandad a few years ago and although I don’t publicly show this upset, I miss him and think about him most days.

“I know he would be proud that I am doing this.

“Most of us have suffered the pain of losing someone close to them through this terrible disease.

“I have seen lives torn apart and although this cannot be made better by me choosing to do this, it is my way of raising what I can in the most challenging and rewarding way to me.”

Tony signed up for the Ultra White Collar boxing event taking place in Peterborough next month.

The Kia Peterborough sales manager joined a group of newbies who are trained for eight weeks at Immortal 365 in the city before fight night.

White collar boxing originated in New York in 1988.

A doctor and a lawyer trained for a few weeks before boxing each other at a black tie event.

Since then it has been the fastest growing corporate contact sport in the world.

Ultra White Collar Boxing, who organised the Peterborough bout, is the most established organisation in the UK, running hundreds of events since 2009.

A spokesman said: “We’ve raised more money for charity, won more awards and are the most conscientious about health and safety than any other organisation.

“We are Cancer Research UK’s biggest fundraisers in the country raising more than £2 million in 2015.”

• The fight is on Saturday March 18 at Peterborough Arena.

• Visit his Just Giving page to donate.