Brave Sian boxes clever to raise money for cancer charity and honour memory of stab victim Craig

An accounts practitioner is getting fit for a boxing match to raise money for a cancer charity and to honour the memory of her cousin who was murdered in a brutal knife attack.

Sian French, 31, who works at the Pendine Park Wrexham has signed up for the Ultra White Collar boxing event at Brymbo Enterprise Centre next Saturday night (March 30) and hopes to raise a punch bag full of cash for Cancer Research UK.

She was inspired to take to the ring after a close friend, Elaine Martin, from Ellesmere Port, suffered from breast cancer.

According to Sian, she will also be paying tribute to her much-loved cousin, amateur boxer Craig Maddocks, 34, from Llay, who was murdered in a frenzied attack in the toilet at the Cambrian Vaults pub in Wrexham in 2013.

His killer Francisco John Prevete, who stabbed Craig 52 times, was jailed for 23 years after being found guilty following the trial at Mold Crown Court.

After weeks of intense exercise at Russ Williams' Martial Arts Centre in Wrexham, Sian "The Furious" French, is coming to the end of her gruelling training schedule in time for the match,

She said: "Elaine, who's a close friend and former work colleague, has been fighting breast cancer for the past 12 months and has undergone both chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

"She has just had the all clear and attending the boxing event will be her first night out since she got the all clear last month. I want to make it a special night for her.

"And another close friend's mum is currently being treated for pancreatic cancer.

"When I saw the sign in the gym advertising the Ultra White Collar Boxing event I just thought well if they can fight cancer I can go three two minutes rounds with an opponent if it raises a good sum of money for Cancer Research UK."

She added: "I have never boxed before and if I'm honest I'm very nervous. But I have family members who have.

"I'm also going to be fighting in memory of my cousin Craig Maddocks who sadly lost his life to knife crime in Wrexham six years ago.

"Craig was a member of Llay Amateur Boxing Club and fought for Wales as an amateur too. Craig's brother Danny also boxed for Llay.

"Danny now spends his time taking the anti-knife message around schools and the tragic consequences that can come from using knives to settle disputes."

To visit Sian French's Just Giving Page please visit www.justgiving.com/sian-french