Fighting for her own little fighter

Jasmine Tobias has overcome feeling unfit and hating exercise to take part her in her first ever boxing match – and raise funds for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Here, she explains why

Mum Jasmine Tobias has smashed her fundraising target after taking part in her first ever boxing match to raise money for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, which saved the life of her baby three years ago. Isla Tobias was born at just 24 weeks and spent the first five months of her life in NICU at the NNUH. She was given only a 10% chance of survival after being born by Caesarean at 24 weeks weighing just 1lb 4oz before undergoing surgery for a gut and bowel perforation.

Jasmine Tobias, wearing blue, has raised £1,125 from an event at Epic Studios

Now Jasmine, from Coltishall, has raised £1,125 from a charity event at Epic Studios, in Norwich, on April 13 in her first ever fight. She says: ‘It was a brilliant experience. A big build-up of 11 hard weeks’ training, changing my diet, pushing myself way out of my comfort zone, putting every ounce of effort and energy I had into training with the fight ending with a brilliant draw against a tough opponent in Natalie Jane who was fighting for the third time.

Jasmine trained at Tower Fitness Gym in Norwich. ‘Doing this was a huge thing for me, being so unfit, hating exercise and the most self-conscious person you could ever meet. I’m so proud. Proud of myself for finally doing this after joking about it so many times and doing it. Proud for going all the way with training. Proud for stepping out of that ring and feeling so happy that I gave it my all. I honestly don’t know what I was worried about. But most of all proud of myself to be fighting for the babies fighting for their lives in NICU and currently sitting on £1,245. NICU did so much for us as a family and without them our little fighter wouldn’t be here today.’

Jasmine managed to sell 24 tickets to family and friends for the boxing match, which came two years after husband Troy also took part in a charity fight, also in support of the NICU, raising £1,570.

You still have time to support Jasmine and the NICU by making donation to her justgiving.com page. For more information about the N&N Hospitals Charity and to support the work they do, contact charity@nnuh.nhs.uk

Featured images of Jasmine Tobias – supplied