Boxing great Joe Calzaghe in Richie Woodhall's corner for cancer charity
There is just one week to go until Richie Woodhall's latest auction, which will see former undefeated world boxing champion Joe Calzaghe deliver a crucial blow in the fight against cancer.
A glove and a 7ft poster, both signed by the Welsh wizard, will go under the hammer at Halls in Shrewsbury on February 15.
All proceeds go to Swimming After Surgery, a charity helping women recover from cancer surgery by taking up swimming.
It is the latest in a series of charity auctions organised by former super-middleweight world champion Richie to raise money for cancer charities in the Shropshire area in memory of his father, Len, who died in 2015 after a long battle with the disease. Calzaghe, who achieved world titles at super-middleweight and light-heavyweight levels, holds the record as the longest-reigning continuous world champion. He was also undefeated when he retired in 2008.
Richie, who lives in Telford, memorably challenged Calzaghe for his title in his last fight in December 2000, and the two have remained close friends since. He chose Swimming After Surgery after meeting founder Fiona Smith at a recent charity event. It provides private swimming sessions in the pool at Short Wood Primary School in Wellington, and now has 30 regular swimmers at its sessions on Wednesdays, 6.30pm to 7.30pm. But Fiona says the group has provided help for about 350 people over the past year with support and advice.
The charity also provides support and advice, as well as specialist underwear for women who have had mastectomies.
The auction will be held at Halls auction house in Bowmen Way, Battlefield, Shrewsbury, starting at 10am
All items can be viewed the day before, as well as on the day of the auction itself.
Anyone not able to attend can get the auctioneer to lay a proxy bid on their behalf by calling 01743 450700.
