Richie Woodhall: How my dad inspired me to help cancer charities

While three years have flown past in the blink of an eye, it feels an eternity since we went fishing together, spoke passionately about the Baggies or just laughed and joked about stuff. We were always laughing, my dad had a gift of making people smile, his quick wit had me creased over at times with my sides aching. He was such a character and I loved him dearly.

When he first left us to my surprise I coped ok and I think my family in general braced itself for something we all feared deep down, but not really knowing the true effect it would have. When it first happens there's so much to sort out, funeral arrangements for example. Your mind is all over the place and everyday I expected him to come walking through the door wanting a favourite Jerry-Lee-Lewis record played at the funeral or something.

As time passed it got worse for me, not better, however. They say time is a great healer, but the pain of losing my dad is greater now than ever. I really struggle not seeing him.

As my boxing career took off, he was always there at my side, always with a word of support and advice. He always emphasised the importance of using my height and range. I was a tall, skinny kid and he was always an influence on me using the physical attributes I had.

But it wasn't just me he helped. He put a lot of work into the community for amateur boxing, he has been a great servant. He touched a lot of people and it showed with the turn out at the funeral.

But just as my dad inspired and motivated me to give my all in the ring, his death has also given me a fresh motivation to ensure his legacy lives on.

A new passion of mine now is raising money for cancer charities from boxing and other memorabilia I have collected over the years.

Shortly after his death, I approached the Shropshire Star about holding regular charity auctions, and over the past three years they have raised thousands of pounds for different cancer charities.

One of the most wonderful things about this has been learning about all the good work that goes on in our county helping people with the disease.

The volunteers of the Pink Ribbon Trust and Lingen Davies, which help buy vital equipment for our hospitals. The Jayne Sargent Trust and Shropshire Brain Tumour Support, which help people come to terms with their condition. The Harry Johnson Trust, which gives vital comfort to children being treated for cancer, Swimming After Surgery which shows the therapeutic value of sport. Everyone of these charities makes a massive difference to the people they help.

Losing my dad sparked something off inside and I know he would be proud of me helping people. Years ago I would see an appeal in the paper for cancer and shamefully move on to the next story. We've all done it! I would try to help out here and there but never gave raising money or really helping out the attention I should have.

Things are different now, I feel a strong sense of duty to do something, everyone should. Why? Because there is not a person you know who will not be affected by cancer in some way throughout their lives. It's that simple. Be it yourself, a family member or a friend that succumbs to it, cancer is a catalogue of devastation for everyone connected to that person and it can strike at any time. So do your bit!

The cure is out there we just have to keep pushing, raising money and raising awareness. I really believe that if you want something badly enough it has to happen. The more people strive towards a cure for cancer the answer will come, we just have to believe it.

Finally I would like to say a massive thank you to the Shropshire Star and Halls Auctioneers of Shrewsbury, for all their help with the auctions, two companies certainly doing their bit.