Boxing smart for Dungannon’s Niamh Louise Foundation

Dubbed “the ultimate in white collar boxing” - the fight night will showcase 16 separate bouts featuring 32 fighters - all to raise money for the Dungannon based mental health charity.

The Niamh Louise foundation, based at idyllic premises just outside the town, is entirely self-funded and offers a drop in service for people of all ages and from all walks of life, who may be facing mental health issues.

“The most important thing to remember is that it’s not your fault, and that you can recover,” founder Catherine McBennett told the Times.

“Help is out there and it’s just a matter of knowing how to access that help.”

Describing Niamh Louise as a charity that fills in the gap between those that need help and medical professionals, Catherine added: “We are professional in our work, but we’re not the professional GPs, we’re not psychiatrists - we act as the first aiders within the community.

“The first thing we would say to people is it’s an illness like any other illness. If you had physical ill health or if you were having heart problems, diabetes or cancer you would go and seek help for your symptoms, and if that required medication you would take it without question.

“We are very grateful to Armagh-Geddon charity boxing for selecting the Niamh Louise Foundation as their charity and the Armagh City Hotel for holding the fundraiser,” Catherine added.

“Every pound raised will make a real difference to local individuals in need of our support.”

Organiser Liam White said: “We are delighted to be announcing another Armagh-Geddon Charity Boxing event this year following its success in 2013.

“There has been an astonishing amount of interest shown by local participants ensuring the evening to be another knockout success!”

Under the guidance of Keady professional boxer and Commonwealth Bronze medallist Sean Duffy, 32 brave men and women are putting it all on the line to undergo an intensive six week training programme that will see them progress from boxing amateurs to pros when they get the opportunity to compete in a boxing ring on Saturday, November 29 in the Armagh City Hotel at 8pm.

Tickets are £20 with a limited number of ring side seats available for £30, and can be purchased from Armagh City Hotel or by contact Liam White on 07725705418, Sean McKinney on 07715 983129 or Seamus O’Neill on 07884 315110.