RESIDENTS across Dorset are being offered the chance a step into the ring – and help deliver a knockout blow to cancer.

Ultra White Collar Boxing (UWCB), the organisation behind the effort, has set a target of raising £1 million for Cancer Research.

It has already raised more than £360,000 for the charity in Bournemouth, after a similar initiative.

Participants are given eight weeks of gym-based training under the guidance of experienced coaches before taking part in a bout, of three two-minute rounds, in front of hundreds of their friends, family, and colleagues at the Bournemouth International Centre on July 10.

They don't have to pay a penny to train for the event, but those taking part are asked to raise a minimum of £50 for Cancer Research.

Organisers say competitors will be evenly matched in their training group with boxers of similar abilities.

Jon Leonard, who heads up UWCB, said for many, it is a life-changing experience as they report being fitter than at any other time in their life, eating more healthily and losing weight.

He said: “Of course, our efforts to raise money for this important charity to carry out its vital work have been hit very hard.

“All our fundraising efforts are down to the incredible people who take part and put in eight weeks of hard work to achieve their goal.

“The BIC is an incredible venue, and I would say to anyone thinking of taking part to give it a go – it is an excellent opportunity to take up a new challenge after the end of lockdown.

“Everyone is welcome. The bonds which are formed amongst our competitors are incredible with many people who would never have met in everyday life forming lifelong friendships.”

More than 160,000 people have already tried out UWCB, with most stepping into the ring for the very first time.

Simon Ledsham, director of fundraising at Cancer Research UK, said: “We are so grateful to the organisers behind each event, every person that signs up to take part and the generosity of their friends and family who sponsor them.

“Together they are helping to fund our pioneering research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

“The truth is, Covid-19 has slowed us down.  But we will never stop and we are absolutely determined to continue to create better cancer treatments for tomorrow.

“We remain reliant on the generosity of the public to fund our life-saving work and we’re eagerly anticipating the return of fundraising events with all necessary Covid-19 guidelines in place.

“Thanks to research funded by supporters, who take part in activities like an ultra event, today two in four people survive cancer – and our ambition is to accelerate progress so that within the next 20 years, this figure will reach three in four and enable more families to stay together for longer.”

Visit www.ultrawhitecollarboxing.co.uk/locations/bournemouth/ to see how to take part in the boxing event.

It is open to anyone aged 18 and over, and so far, the eldest competitor to take part was 70.