A YOUNG fighter will dedicate her first professional title bout to her mum and all of those who have helped to save her life.
With her mum and dad both being involved in kickboxing, Hollie Bowness has been involved in the sport since she was three years old.
Before she transitioned over to Thai Boxing, which she says gives her more freedom in the ring, Hollie dedicated her first white-collar kickboxing fight to her mum Jo, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2015.
As treatment complications later resulted in an eight-year cancer battle, which have included fifteen operations and the loss of Jo's right eye, Hollie thought it was fitting to dedicate her first championship bout to her fighter mum, and all of those who have helped to save her life at Aintree Hospital.
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Hollie, 19, from Sutton Manor, said: "I thought the title fight would be a perfect time to raise money for my mum because the first time I fundraised for her was the first time I properly stepped into the ring.
"She got a tumour removed, which we thought was benign at first, when I was still in primary school.
"Since then it has just been complication after complication. She lost her right eye after radiotherapy killed some of her healthy cells, and she is about to undergo her fifteenth procedure in eight years."
Although Jo is now free from cancer, doctors have not yet put her into remission because of the numerous complications she has faced.
Despite these immense challenges, Hollie said that her mum has still been working 12 hours shifts and training at the gym every day.
While this is a testament to Jo's strength of character, Hollie said that her recovery has been made possible by the dedicated team at Aintree Hospital who have spent eight years trying to save her life.
In gratitude of this, Hollie will donate all of the ticket commission and prize fund from her title fight to the Head and Neck Cancer Centre at Aintree Hospital.
Hollie, who also works at a recruitment agency, added: "I have a training camp for the next ten weeks where I will be training every day after work, but this is nothing to what my mum has gone through.
"The money raised will be a huge thank you to the doctors and specialists that helped save my mum's life and who continue to take care of her."
Hollie's first flyweight Thai Boxing professional title fight will take place at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham, on Saturday, May 27.
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