Wigan-born dad is boxing clever to help friend with incurable brain cancer

Mark Abram, 39, was told by doctors he had less than five years to live when they found a large tumor after he went to see them about a headache.

After being diagnosed in April 2017 - Mr Abram was unable to go back to his work as a postman and he and his family struggled to pay the bills.

Now his best friend, David Bowery - who has been fundraising for Mr Abram and his family for the last three years - has taken part in an Ultra White Collar Boxing event to raise money for a cancer charity.

The 41-year-old has known Mark since they were kids growing up together in Hindley.

Since his diagnosis in April 2017 when he was just 36, Mr Abram has been unable to work. He was paid full pay for six months and then half pay for the following six months before eventually going onto statutory sick pay.

Mr Abram’s wife, Mandy, is currently training to be teacher all while looking after her husband and their two children, Nick, 14, and 12-year-old Holly.

David said: “Me and Mark became friends as kids, he was a couple of years younger than me and although we didn’t go to school together we grew up in the same area.

“We had mutual friends, we had a lot in common and we supported the same football club, Manchester United, so we’ve been best mates ever since really.”

Ultra White Collar Boxing participants are given the opportunity to take part in eight weeks of free professional training before a showcase event in front of hundreds of spectators.

Those taking part in the events are asked to sell tickets for the show and raise at least £50 for Cancer Research UK.

So far, Ultra Events - the company behind the event - has raised a staggering £21m for the charity.

Dad of two, Mr Abram, who has an aggressive grade three brain tumour said his entire world was “thrown upside down” in the spring of 2017.

He said: “It’s difficult to describe the feeling of being called into the consultant’s office - especially when they are looking rather serious and are accompanied by a note-taker brandishing the world’s biggest clipboard.

“The world stops-still for a moment.

“Stresses of family, kids, school, work, money and death hit you like a brick.

“You do your best to absorb every scrap of info given to you but deep down you’re just treading water practically nothing of the commencing conversation will be taken on board no matter how hard you try.”

As well as taking on the boxing challenge to raise money for Cancer Research UK, Favid has also organised charity football matches, charity disco nights and climbed Snowdonia in Wales to raise funds for his friend.

However, he said that the Ultra White Collar boxing event, which he trained for at Majestic Gym in Wigan, was by far the hardest challenge he had attempted. He said: “The challenge for me was definitely more mental than physical.

“I have always loved having a physical activity to focus my mind on, to have something to train towards.

“The first training sessions were a shock.”

On the night of the Ultra event at the DW Stadium, David stepped into the ring to a song mixed by his son, Sam combining “This is the one” by the Stone Roses, and “Stoned Love” by the Supremes.

Mr Bowery won his bout and raised over £1,000 for Cancer Research UK but said he did get “a bit emotional” when he spoke to his childhood friend afterwards.

Mr Abram said: “It’s people like David who drive me on a daily basis to look after myself the best I can as I’m desperate that all David and everyone’s donations and hard work for me will not be in vain.

“It’s thanks to people like David and all the people at Ultra White Collar Boxing that I can’t help but feel positive and that there’s good news just around the corner.”

The next Ultra event takes place on June 20 and training begins the week commencing April 27, anyone thinking of signing up can click here