Manor Motors boss boxing for charity
Nov 10 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal
A NORTH businessman is getting into the boxing ring to raise money for the hospital where his daughter underwent heart surgery.
Mark Gorman, 39, who part-runs Manor Motors in Hesleden near Sunderland, is one of the participants in a charity “white-collar” boxing event to be held next month, organised by Olympic bronze medallist boxer Tony Jeffries.
It will see 14 businessmen from all over the region fighting it out at Rainton Meadows Arena in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, in front of a crowd approaching 1,000, including former heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno.
A third of the money will be going to ward 23 at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, where Mark’s daughter Hannah was looked after following major surgery last month.
The seven-year-old, a pupil at East Herrington School in Sunderland, suffered from a heart condition called Wolff Parkinson White syndrome, but is now fit and well after a successful operation.
Mark, who lives with his wife Maria, 41, Hannah and son James, nine, in Dudley Gardens, East Herrington, Sunderland, said he wanted to repay staff at the hospital for their good work.
He said: “We agreed that some of the money would go their way before the operation.
“It’s really for kids in the future who are in a similar position to Hannah.
Having started intensive training under the watchful eye of Tony Jeffries in the lead-up to the final event, Mark revealed he was already bearing some scars.
He said: “I sparred with Tony and it was over four rounds. By the end of it my head guard was on sideways and I looked like a drunk – but it was great.
“I had a headache and I was sore across the shoulders, but it was an honour to spar with him. I can always tell my kids, can’t I?” Tony, fresh from an Olympic bronze in Beijing, said: “I was at a boxing show just before I went to the Olympics. There were two of them (businessmen) saying ‘if I got you in the ring I’d do this and that’.
“They are 40-odd years old and they were having a laugh about it but also being serious.
“I said when I get back from the Olympics we will organise a white collar boxing event for charity and you will be able to fight each other.
“Since then, there have been tons of people wanting to get on and fight in this thing. They’re all managing directors so they’re looking forward to it.
“It’s getting a lot of attention because it’s a big event and everyone wants to see their boss at work get bashed up.”
