A Maidstone mechanic who had never stepped inside a gym has successfully completed four boxing matches and a truck pull to raise funds for charitable causes. Andrew Tannahill, an employee at Protyre Autocare Maidstone, has raised more than £40,000 for Cancer Research UK and the suicide prevention charity Baton of Hope in memory of his late mother and grandmother.
The 31-year-old decided to support these charities after losing his grandmother to cancer and his mother to alcohol-related issues within a short period. Reflecting on his motivations, Andrew said: "Losing my nan was a massive blow to our family; she was the pillar that held us together. Her loss inspired me to take on my first fight, despite being a complete novice and never having set foot in a gym before."
After that initial match, he began training for a truck pull. During this time, his mother passed away, struggling to cope with the loss of her own mother. Following this tragedy, Andrew completed three additional boxing matches to maximize his fundraising efforts.
Andrew shows no signs of stopping. He is currently organizing another event and plans to participate in a Tough Mudder run next year to continue supporting both charities. He stated: "Baton of Hope and Cancer Research are causes close to my heart after experiencing the loss of my mum and nan. Cancer Research is doing amazing work to find a cure for cancer, while Baton of Hope gives people the courage to speak up and have someone listen. I plan to continue raising as much money as I can for both charities in memory of my mum and nan. I hope it will go some way to supporting other people in their time of need."
Andrew's fundraising efforts over recent years have reached tens of thousands of pounds, including a donation from his employer, Protyre Autocare. Shane Collier, centre manager at Protyre Maidstone, commented: "We are incredibly proud of Andrew and his fundraising efforts for such wonderful causes. He has gone from never stepping foot in a boxing ring to organizing and taking part in four matches, which is an incredible feat—not to mention pulling a lorry! We can't wait to find out more about his next event. We are in his 'corner' all the way."
For more information on Andrew's chosen charities, visit www.cancerresearchuk.org and https://thebatonofhope.org.
