Merseyside student raises over £500 for testicular cancer

Liverpool John Moores University Shaun Knuppel student has been preparing for a charity boxing fight taking on Saturday that has seen him raise just over £500 for the Oddballs Foundation, a charity dedicated to raising awareness for testicular cancer.

‘The Notorious’ Knuppel has undergone training for the past eight weeks in preparation for ‘Wilder Fight Night’, an event closely partnered with Oddballs, where all participants are raising funds for the cause.

The Oddballs Foundation is a charity that Knuppel has supported for some time by working alongside the charity’s ambassador during Freshers Week.

The charities message that testicular cancer can affect all men, has motivated him to participate in the fight. He sees the event as an opportunity to do something rewarding by supporting a charity that brings attention to an important health issue.

The third-year student said: “It’s such a good cause,”. “Testicular cancer can affect anyone, at any age, either directly or indirectly. Being part of something so important, especially at university, is a great feeling.”

Knuppel’s dedication goes beyond just stepping into the ring. His fundraising goal of £500 has been surpassed, with the total now £515 and the charity as a whole raising nearly £8,000.

“It’s great to see the community come together, and it’s amazing to see how much we’ve raised so far.”

In preparation for fight night, Knuppel has been training religiously for eight weeks, putting the traditional student life on pause to dedicate himself to fight camp and live a healthy lifestyle in order to prepare for the event.

“It’s a good opportunity to do something I’ve never done before, to prove to myself that I can commit to eight weeks of training, raise money, and spread awareness. It’s been a mix of training hard, eating cleaner, and cutting out alcohol, all while managing student life on a budget.

The fight is important, but so is the money and awareness we’re raising. I’ve done my bit for charity, and now my focus is on winning the fight,”

Though he’s only recently taken up boxing, Knuppel’s interest in the sport is not newfound.

“Boxing has always fascinated me, and now with social media and YouTube, it’s even easier to get involved in discussions about the sport,”

With his focus on raising awareness and funds for Oddballs, ‘The Notorious’ is ready to step into the ring and fight for a cause that’s close to his heart.

“Tomorrow, I’m going out there to give it my all, not just for me, but for the charity.

The money and awareness we’ve raised already is amazing, but I want to end this experience with a win.”

Knuppel has openly expressed an interest in continuing to be involved with the foundation as his passion for the charity and the sport of boxing has only grown more prominent through this experience.

“I’ve loved every part of this journey. I’m already thinking about the next fight night. When I graduate and head into the real world, I still want to keep boxing and stay fit.”

Tomorrow night, he will enter the ring for the first time with a clear mindset, not just on winning his bout, but on doing his part to fight for a cause that affects so many people worldwide.