Boxing clever: Shropshire crash victim Steph takes up sport for charity

Steph Edwards, 25, is raising money for Cancer Research UK as part of a personal challenge to roll with the punches and set herself some new targets in her life.

Steph, who lives in Gobowen with her mother Jackie, father Phil and has two older sisters, Sarah and Lisa, said: "I have never, ever been in a fight in my life.

"But I got it in my head that I wanted to learn to box because I knew it would be a major personal challenge and it was what I was looking for at the time.

"The very thought of it put me outside my comfort zone and at the beginning of this year, I was at a point in my life where I wanted to push my boundaries and really get out there and achieve some new goals in my life."

In October last year, Steph was driving to work when a tractor pulling a long steel cylinder trailer turned into a junction in front of her.

Steph ploughed into the trailer at 50mph and sustained several broken bones including some in her hand and ribs and had to have stitches in her knee and treatment for a badly sprained ankle. Her car was completely destroyed.

She said: "When you have something like that happen to you, it makes you want to get out there and make the most of all that life has to offer. It made me want to try some new things and boxing had always been at the back of my mind to try.

"I am quite a determined person and once I put my mind to something, I won't change it."

Steph's fight will take place on September 11 and she is training via the UK-based organisation Ultra White Collar Boxing which commits its rookie boxers to raise money for Cancer Research UK. In return they are provided with extensive training in the eight weeks leading up to their fight when they are partnered up with a competitor of a similar weight and standard.

Steph, who works as an investment administrator for Wrexham-based wealth management firm Hadlow Edwards, attends two boxing training sessions a week, has endured punishing weight-training in the gym six times a week and squeezes in three-mile run and high intensity fitness training whenever she has a spare moment.

She said: "I think my mum is a bit worried about my face getting bashed around a bit and of course that I might get hurt. my dad is used to being in a house of women because I have two older sisters so this is his chance to do something a bit more masculine with one of us and he has been helping me practise." She has also been spurred on to success by her commitment to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Steph said: "I have had loved ones affected by cancer as so many people have."

• To sponsor Steph go to justgiving.com/fundraising/uwcb-stephedwards1955256222