Video: Neil Huntley went 100 gruelling rounds for Dawson Willcock.
A boxer sparred 100 rounds to raise money for a Nottinghamshire boy who has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
Dawson Willcock, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, was diagnosed with the liver cancer Hepatoblastoma at just 15 months old in January.
The cancer only affects one in a million children and Dawson, who is just 20 months old, has already undergone 34 rounds of chemotherapy.
But he needs lifesaving treatment in America and his family has set up the charity, called A Dollar For Dawson, to raise money for the treatment.
A Dollar For Dawson has so far raised £95,271 of its £500,000 target.
Local boxer Neil Huntley, a friend of Dawson’s dad David, sparred 100 rounds – the equivalent of more than eight fights – with different opponents and raised £1,000.
Neil sparred for more than 300 minutes, with few breaks, at Revolution Fitness, Redcliffe Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, on Sunday (June 25).
Afterwards he said: “It was very tiring but good – it was all for a good cause. I’m glad I did it. Half-way through my arms started to get a little bit heavy. I worked on my back foot and tried to avoid the punches as well as I could.
“I’m going to have a magnesium bath, a hot soak, do plenty of stretches and then I’m back training tomorrow morning at six o’clock.”
Wendy Willcock, Dawson’s mum, said seeing her child suffering is the ‘worst thing in the world’.
“You feel so helpless, you want to take it away from them. But you can’t. He’s had about 34 lots of chemotherapy so far, none of which has worked. We know his last five months of pain has been for nothing,” she said.
“Every child deserves the chance to grow up and grow old and have a life. We can’t thank people enough. They are saving our son’s life by donating £1. Some have donated £5, £10 and £15 even – it’s overwhelming.”
Before the challenge, Neil said: “He’s [Dawson] got a rare form of cancer and needs treatment which needs to be paid for, which is absolutely horrendous.
“He’s only 20 months old. I know David his father, I’m really good friends with him. I’m trying to raise awareness and as much money as I can.”
After 40 rounds, he said: “I went into it a bit cold because I didn’t get chance to do a warm-up. Now I’m warm I feel absolutely fine.
“There’s some very skilled lads here. So once we get a few children I’ll be able to get a bit of a breather and then we go again.”
