White collar boxing. Boxing, being boxed around the place. Oh, sweet Jesus! When I was asked, nay told, I was doing the white collar boxing in aid of Kilfinny childcare I didn't pay much attention to it. You see my wife is on the committee, and is huge into fitness, and keeping fit, and healthy. So, the deal was that either she or I would do it. So I passed it off thinking it would be she who would be doing it. Maybe I should have paid more attention! You see, my good lady wife has taken on a new course at work, and is up the walls. So when my opponent dropped out, I was parachuted in as first sub! No problem said I as long as I can keep my Tuesday's and Thursday's playing over 35 football. Grand I was told, and I reluctantly set about sponsorship.

Sponsorship was a target of €350, and the usual crew were harangued into donating, and the target was met with time to spare thank God. I had coerced a few friends, my brother, and my best buddy into the event, and we were set. It'll be great craic I told them. Gas, yeah I'm sure. A friend of mine often comments when he does 5/10KM 'fun runs' that he sees nothing funny in them! But I remained steadfast that it will be good fun. There's a good group of us doing it and as long as we train as instructed by Peter 'Mush' and Gavin, I'm sure they won't steer us wrong. A cousin of mine has done it before and he confirmed what everyone else has said; it's good fun, but the training is severe.

To be honest, I have no problems in fronting up for the bashing I'm sure to take. I have firsthand experience of the colossal amount of work that the committee put in to the venture. From meetings to organization to paperwork to problem solving, and now onto fund raising. It really is a hard task, and there is hundreds of hours put into it by committee members who are tireless, and really put in Trojan work. The best way I can describe it is that the parish of Kilfinny is extremely fortunate to have this committee, and parents and the school owe them a huge debt of thanks.

Secondly, you know that kid in the sweet shop? Well just let's leave it there! I am that kid, and every shop is a sweet shop! I have the biggest sweet tooth imaginable. You know how shops put sweet things in strategic places, so customers will get drawn into buying them? No need with me, I'll find them no matter where they're placed! If they put them out the back, I'll find them! Christmas isn't just about Santa for me, it's about all the sweet stuff I can eat and use Christmas as an excuse! Ditto Easter, birthdays, anniversaries. Basically any occasion that I can think of! I do some running and it helps to focus, so I have improved. But not enough, so this regime will hopefully give me an extra edge in the fight against sweets.

When we went to the information night, Peter and Gavin left us in no doubt that the training will be hard, but that we'd 'get used to it' and we'd be fine. And I have no doubt that we will, but is that 'fine' because of the day's break in between? I am under no illusions of how tough it will be but I'll give it a go and see how I go.

Finally, we were told to pick our fighter names, and entrance songs. The entrance song of 'Hall of fame' by The Script came to me fairly easily, as did the fighting name of 'Paper Bag'. I couldn't beat my way out of a paper bag, so there you go! I fully intend to enjoy the experience and not take myself too seriously. Until next week when I'm sure I'll be broke up!