A Manchester-based Hong Kong lawyer is stepping into the boxing ring for a third time in a bid to raise more than £20,000 for children’s charities.

Selma Masood, who is 45, won her first white-collar boxing event in 2012 in Hong Kong. After moving to Manchester just over a year ago, she decided to take on another boxing challenge, joining the White Collar Fighter (WCF) boxing programme.

After eight weeks of intense training, Selma won her second fight in July 2023. Raising an incredible £10,800 for Save the Children International, Selma has been inspired to box again in September 2023. The money raised at this event will support World Child Cancer with £12,888 already in the pot. 

Commenting on the drivers behind her fighting again, Selma said: “I’ve had a tough few years and boxing has really helped me mentally, emotionally and physically. Although the WCF training and fights are challenging, the whole experience is very empowering. The programme has made me feel more confident and stronger, while giving me the chance to meet new friends, and most importantly raise money for great causes.

“I’m lucky to have a lot of amazing people in my corner who have been my pillar of strength and support. Thanks to their generosity, I’ve been able to raise more than I ever imagined. My hope is that we can hit £13,000 for World Child Cancer.

“Having now trained for the best part of 16 weeks, I’m pretty much at my peak fitness-wise, so I’m as ready as I can be for the next fight. At 45 though, I’m not sure I’ll be able to continue training at this high level of intensity, so I’ll definitely be giving my body a break afterwards!”

Born and raised in Hong Kong, with a Hong Kong mother and Persian / Indian father, Selma came to the UK to study at the University of Manchester where she achieved a music and a law degree between 1996-2002. She qualified as a Solicitor in Hong Kong in 2006 and specialises in contentious disputes, including but not limited to commercial, civil, matrimonial and criminal matters as well as commercial transactions and mergers & acquisitions.

In early 2016, she set up her own law firm – SM & Co Solicitors, which is in association with Italian International Law Firm, Gianni & Origoni. Managing her team and firm remotely from Manchester means her days start at 1:30am / 2:30am with the time difference.

Selma also had a stint in the Judiciary, sitting as a Deputy Magistrate at Eastern Magistrates’ Court in early 2019. She is a frequent speaker on “Women Empowerment” with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Women in Law Hong Kong as well as a Ted X HKU Speaker in 2021. 

Selma’s next WCF fight will take place on Saturday, 9 September 2023 at Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester. 

To support Selma’s fundraising efforts, visit: https://app.collectionpot.com/pot/3130447

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After eight weeks of hard training Charley will enter the ring on October 30th 2022!  Charley will be raising funds for Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.  Read more about her reasons for choosing this charity here…

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Watch the video for the full report.

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Listen to Ciaran Tracey’s BBC Radio 5 Live documentary that was made all about the White Collar Fighter journey… “Why I Fight: The Story of a White Collar Fighter”.

Listen to part 1

Listen to part 2

Listen to part 3

Visit BBC Blogs to read the full article.

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WCF Contender Angela Snagg has had a major transformation after signing up for White Collar Fighter’s 8 week training programme.

A mum of two has managed to halve her body weight and find a fiance.

32-year-old Angela Snagg from Stockbridge Village who at her heaviest weighed 32 stone has two daughters, Rosalie, eight, and April, Seven.

She said there was a point two years ago when something in her “just snapped”.

She said: “I was at my biggest two years ago in 2018.

“In 2017 I got a dog to try and start losing weight and it did work, I lost about two stone just from walking – but then I realised I had to up my game.

Angela said she had been in a relationship that had made her unhappy, but before she ended it she found herself at her lowest point.

“I think something snapped in me, I can’t tell you exactly what that was, but enough was enough.

“I got to my biggest because I was at my lowest.

“I actually took an overdose and my mum had to step in for a while to look after my children.

“So I decided to sort myself out.”

After hearing that her auntie had terminal cancer, Angela decided to take up boxing and raise some money for charity.

Exercise together with a fresh start helped motivate her to change her life and get in shape.

She said: “That helped give me an extra push, but I could never have done that if it wasn’t for a healthy, happy mindset.

“Once you get rid of the toxic from your life things get better.

“I started in the gym and got myself a Personal Trainer. I started a program in January, and I had a charity boxing match signed up so I had a couple of months to get in shape.”

In two years Angela has halved her body weight down to 16-stone and is now training to become a personal trainer to help other people.

The change exercise – together with calorie counting – has made to her life in that time she says has been remarkable.

She said: “If you’d have told me two years ago I’d be as active as I am now I’d have laughed in your face.

“I couldn’t go on fairground rides with the kids because I was too big.

“I couldn’t run around the park with them because I would have to sit on the bench and watch them as I’d get out of breath.”

Last week, Angela’s new partner, who used to be a long-time friend, asked her to become his wife.

She said: “I’ve known him for a while, he lives next door but one to me.

“So we were friends and it blossomed into a relationship and I couldn’t be happier”

Angela says her kids are much more content at home and happier now with their “new mum” and she offered this advice to anybody else who may find themselves in the same situation as she was two years ago.

“It’s never too late to get out and change,” she said, adding: “No matter how old you are or how long you’ve been in that place for, whether you’re in a bad relationship or just a bad place mentally, there are people who will help you.

“It’s never too late.”

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[First published on Hold The Front Page – 12th August 2021]

A regional journalist who suffered from depression as a young adult is set to step into the boxing ring in aid of a mental health charity.

Yorkshire Post education correspondent Ruth Dacey will box in a fundraising bout in aid of the Mental Health Foundation.

Ruth, pictured, chose the charity due to friends she had lost to suicide and her own previous battle with depression.

The 32-year-old, who is based in Pudsey, will join fellow fundraisers in an evening of “white collar fighter” matches, where amateurs have to face off in the ring.

Ruth told HTFP: “I have been fortunate to be able to move to a healthier and happier place in my life.

And now I love the idea of raising cash for such a good cause. The Mental Health Foundation provides vital help and support to those people who need it.”

“Everyone has mental health and still in society today we need to talk more about mental health because everybody deals with trauma, anxiety, and difficulties in life in different ways.”

Ruth is currently halfway through an eight-week training regime ahead of the bout, including the introductory “hell week”, to be held at the John Charles Sports Arena, in Leeds, on 11 September.

The award-winning journalist, who has been working remotely for the past 18 months, initially had apprehensions about signing up but after the first session she said she knew she had “nothing to fear”.

She said: “There was a fantastic buzz about the group immediately – every person had two things in common – a sense of adventure and a desire to raise money for charity.

“The training so far has left me sweaty and feeling physically sick on more than one occasion due to the sheer intensity of it all.

“Will it all be worth it? I guess I will find out next month when my newly honed fighting skills are really put to the test.”

To donate to Ruth’s cause, click here.

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[First published on Leigh Journal – 4th April 2020]

TWO women have shown their courage by stepping into the boxing ring to help a close cause of a friend.

Melissa Pettigrew, 42, and Catherine Cisse, 43, fought at a white collar boxing charity event in February at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester to raise funds for Wigan and Leigh Hospice.

The pair supported the Hindley Hospice, which looked after their friend Claire Lawrenson’s mum Doreen, 81, who died there last year.

They were put through their paces in eight weeks of intensive training in preparation for the big night, where a number of matches took place.

And flyweight Commonwealth Games gold medalist Lisa Whiteside, who Claire knows through a mutual friend, also sent the white collar boxers a voice message to wish them well ahead of their fights.

Lisa’s dad died from cancer so helping a hospice is a cause close to her heart.

The Chorley fighter also sent a signed t-shirt to raise more money for the hospice.

The friends raised more than £2,000 for the hospice through separate fundraising pages.

Catherine said: “Both of us wanted to raise money for this local charity after Claire’s mum Doreen passed away from cancer.

“The care this beautiful lady and her family received from the hospice during her illness was astounding.

“Over the past few years, I have lost six stone so I also looked forward to the challenge of pushing myself to get fitter.

“I was definitely out of my comfort zone but the fight night was amazing.

“I managed to win my fight and I also won an award for raising the most money in our camp.”

Melissa, who has been friends with Claire for 37 years, was defeated in her bout but her opponent was much taller than her.

She said: “The hospice supported my friend and her family through such a difficult time – it is such an amazing charity.

“I felt completely useless as to what to say or how to help my dear friend and her family at such a sad time, so I decided to sign up for a white collar fighter event with Catherine.”

Claire, from Lowton, is “grateful” to her friends for their efforts.

She added that “they have raised an incredible amount” of money.

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[First published on Wigan Today – 20th March 2020]

A Wigan GP is swapping his stethoscope for boxing gloves to boost the borough’s hospice coffers.

Dr Adeyinka Adejumo will enter the ring for a sponsored bout to raise money in memory of his sister who died in a hospice after a long battle with cancer.

He is now in intense training for the three round-fight at a charity event next month.

Dr Adejumo said: “My sister Lola passed away in August 2015 after a long and brave battle with cancer.

“She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma of her jaw in 2005 and despite gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and surgery, she eventually passed away at her local hospice surrounded by family and friends.

“My memories of those 10 years were of deep uncertainty, fear and profound anxiety.

“However, the last week of her life spent at the hospice was so full of joy, care, dignity and even humour.

“Her three children were able to spend time with her and she died peacefully.

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