A DAD-of-two is in training for a boxing challenge to support a charity which helped his ‘second mum’ before she died from cancer.

David Barrow, from Atherton, will step in the ring on March 10 in Manchester as one of the boxers in a White Collar Fighter event to support the HoneyRose Foundation, which made arrangements to renew the vows of his mother-in-law Ann Speers and husband David last April at their Westleigh home.

They had been already been married for 36 years.

The foundation also arranged a buffet and decorated the room for the special ceremony as well as sending the family teddy bears as a Christmas present from Ann after she died.

David, 35, said: “Ann was one of a kind with a fiery, full-of-life personality and had a heart of gold.

"She would help anyone and was like a second mum to me.

“The HoneyRose Foundation brought life into our darkness and asked for nothing in return.

“I want to give this everything I have got and fight as hard as Ann did for us and against her struggles.

“I wish I could have bottled up the fighting spirit that lady had because I could have been world champion.”

Ann’s daughter Elizabeth, 30, reserved praise for her partner David.

She added: “I am so proud of David and what he is doing the boxing challenge for.

“He is working so hard physically and mentally to win his fight.

“We have always been a strong, close family and mum was the main person to turn to if anyone needed support.

“I am proud to have had her as my mum and very grateful.”

To donate to David’s crowdfunding page, visit bit.ly/2CzS8g4 or send a text message to FTGR99 £1 to 70070.