Dom, part of the team at Les Quennevais and a brilliant instructor is taking on a boxing match for charity this November, to raise vital funds for Mind Jersey. We caught up with him to find out how his training is going.
What inspired you to sign up for a boxing match, and why did you choose to support Mind Jersey?
"I was looking for a new challenge to take on and something to push to my limits.
I chose to raise money for Mind Jersey as it’s a charity that really stands out for me and makes a huge difference in people’s lives."
Had you ever boxed or taken part in anything like this before, or is this completely new territory for you?
"I have never stepped into the ring before - so this is I’ll be my first time. I teach Boxfit at Les Quennevais but have never made the journey into the ring!"
What has training been like so far – physically and mentally?
"Training so far has been really good, but also tough both physically and mentally. It has challenged my fitness as well as my mental strength, pushing me to work hard throughout every session.
I train four to five times a week. Three sessions focus on the fundamentals of boxing, starting with the basics and progressing each week. One session is dedicated to running and fitness, and I also have an additional one-to-one session each week.
Training for a fight can be especially demanding, with some days involving work and training from 5:45am through to 8pm."
How are you staying motivated on the harder days?
"What motivates me the most is the reason I’m doing this: to raise money and awareness for a great charity that’s close to my family’s heart: Mind Jersey.
I have my great grandfathers World War 2 medal on my bed side drawer, which I tend to look at every time I get out of bed to remind me how much our ancestors sacrificed for us during those hard times and that just motivates me and gives me that extra boost!"
What has been the biggest challenge so far?
"So far the biggest challenge has been picking up two minor injuries all within 4 days, which I’ve thankfully recovered from."
How have friends, family or colleagues supported you through the process?
"Massively to be honest, my family have been great- as well as my colleagues especially the duty managers at Les Quennevais who have given me words of encouragement and an extra boost with coffee when I’ve been low on energy - thanks Rob! 🤣"
How can people get involved and support you, whether that’s through donations or cheering you on?
"I have already sold out 5 tables for my fight which is a mixture of family friends and work colleagues/ clients, but you can donate to my chosen charity via Jersey Giving here"
I’m massively grateful for all the support!"
When is the fight taking place, and how are you feeling now that it’s getting closer?
"21st November! I cannot wait! Really looking forward to it! I’m really enjoying each session with the coaches down at Transform Together"
Finally, what advice would you give to anyone thinking about stepping out of their comfort zone to raise money for charity?
"Half the battle is just signing up/doing whatever it is to take you out your comfort zone - once you’ve done that you’ve already achieved something then it’s all a learning curve, whether it’s good or bad - a lesson learned is always a positive and that’s how I look at life especially when it’s for a good cause."
How to support Dom:
Dom’s fight is hosted on 21st November at the Merton Hotel. From all of us at Active, good luck Dom!