A father of two is taking part in a charity boxing match to help his mental health after his wife suggested he might be suffering from postnatal depression. Adam Allerton told how he felt ‘constantly angry' in the weeks following the birth of his second son, Zane. Although the 37-year-old dismissed this, he knew something had to be done about his pent-up emotions.
Postnatal depression is thought to affect one in ten men. In a bid to help him, his 35 year old HR director wife, Jo, then suggested he sign up for an Ultra White Collar Boxing charity bout to raise money for Cancer Research UK. UWCB participants are given the opportunity to take part in eight weeks of free professional boxing training before a showcase event in front of hundreds of spectators.
Those taking part 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 £24 million for Cancer Research UK with Adam alone raising more than £1,000.
Adam, who currently works for a materials handling company in Exeter, Devon, said: "My bout is for other men thinking something isn’t quite right. There are other options open than just sitting down and talking. And while I personally am taking part in this bout, I am also assisting in the fight against cancer, so it's a double win."
The father of Dax, five, and Zane, two, continued: "When my eldest was born, we were in hospital waiting for my wife to give birth for what seemed an eternity. Then all of a sudden, my wife was told she needed an emergency C section. She had to be knocked out and I couldn't be in the room so neither of us witnessed his birth.
"Cut to three years later we found out we were pregnant with our second child. I said to my wife 'we should go for planned C section. It was not a nice thing for me to go through, finding out if you were ok and they were ok."
Despite the birth of Zane running smoothly, Adam was struggling in the weeks after. Adam, who is about to leave his job to become a full time barber, said: "I got six weeks off work but during that time got angry and ill tempered. It was all pent up and I was constantly angry all the time. My wife sat me down but I immediately dismissed the postnatal depression. I didn't go to see anybody. She then suggested signing up.
"I thought 'what's there to lose?' The training allowed me to vent my anger and frustration and it changed my outlook. I'd never done anything like this before in my entire life but the training helped. Although it was daunting to begin with, it gave me something to focus on."
Adam, who is the frontman of a rock and roll band called Lucky 13, was initially due to compete in March 2020 before the pandemic hit. But he has started training again at Exeter Martial Arts centre and will be running out to “Take Me To The Hospital” by the The Prodigy supported by 20 family, colleagues and fellow band members at the Matford Centre, Exeter.
He added: "It's done wonders for my mental wellbeing and my one pack has ever so slightly reduced and my jawline is coming back - I'd forgotten I had one of those. Plus, I'm now fitting into clothes the weight I put on during Covid had taken away from me.”
Adam, of Hatherleigh Road, has so far raised more than £1,000 which was helped by him shaving his head in the office. He said: "I'm a massive Liam Gallagher fan and I had hair down to my shoulders. But I wanted to raise more money so I put a post out on Facebook saying if I get to £1,000 I'll shave my hair off. Well, it went from £200 to well over £1,000 very quickly.
"My advice for anyone contemplating this is simply don’t overthink it, just do it. When you do, take it seriously and above all - listen. Each training session seems to get harder and realistically it does but, as it does, you get that little bit fitter, that little bit more switched on and confident.”
The next Ultra White Collar Boxing event takes place in Exeter on July 9 and training starts in the week commencing May 16.
Anyone thinking of signing up can visit: https://ultrawhitecollarboxing.co.uk/locations/exeter/
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