Andrew Millwall fund raiser Dec 4th

[whiskey]

This guy runs the prediction league on Facebook etc, has a few thousand who partake in it. Just thought it was a nice touch boxers were going to come out and support this boxing fan's event which he's doing despite his health troubles. December 4th.



19.11.12

The WWBPL’s Andrew Millwall on his cancer battle and fundraising event

By Michael J Jones

I recently caught up with Andrew Millwall ahead of the huge boxing fundraiser on December 4th. The event will see a gathering of many starts from the boxing world who have come out in force to support the Worldwide boxing predictions league president.

Earlier this year, Andrew was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. Many people show their mettle when the chips are down and none more so than Andrew. Through all of his suffering, treatment and despair, he has unbelievably kept the league running and not let cancer interfere with his positivity in life or his beloved league.

Next month in Birmingham, the grand fund-raiser will see hundreds of boxer’s, fight folk and fans gather to raise money for Andrew’s recovery. Names from the boxing world set to appear include; Tyson Fury, Kevin Mitchell, Richie Woodhall, the Smith brothers and Lee and Andrew Selby plus many more in an event set to be screened by Sky Sports.

Here’s what the popular 52-year-old Banbury resident had to say-

MJ) When about did you formulate the idea to start your own boxing predictions league?

AM) I developed a variation on (other) prediction leagues, scoring methods etc, to start the league and make it better, bigger, tougher, more competitive, more interesting and easier to understand, but also to keep it friendly and to build a loving, caring community group with it. It’s very different than other leagues as there were already many others, and still are.
MJ) You had a go at boxing I believe?

AM) I started boxing in 1973 at St Pancras ABC, Kings Cross, London, at 13-years-old and was worse than useless; I loved the training, but not sparring, hitting or getting hit in a ring. It definitely was not for me and I’m glad I realised at such a young age, or I would have no brain cells functioning now.

MJ) When did you start the league and what were the first few months like

AM) The league started in September 2010 with 120 people playing league one, the most competitors we have ever had in any league was 297.

MJ) When you first started the league did you ever envision it taking off the way it has with over 7000 members?

AM) Yes, I saw it as a way to possibly get many thousands of people with the same interest in a happy, cared-about environment, concentrating just as much on everything going on in boxing as what was going on in everyone’s lives. A place to play the league, chat to new friends, get on well, all be there for each other, meet up eventually, and keep all friction, hassles etc out. Everyone needs someone to chat to, open up to, and I have attempted to be here for every single person in the group since day one, whatever they need, be it a chat about boxing or something more personal. I feel this has been the greatest achievement, and very rewarding when you know that many people will stay in touch and open up to each other now also.

Had I not gotten poorly, I would have continued to build it further, but since April, I have had to let it just continue without unsettling it all. I will endeavour to ensure I get someone reputable to continue to build this, as soon as I can find the right person or people to do it, and I know it will grow at as fast a rate as the new owner decides they want it to. There is nothing to prevent the group being 25,000+ with many playing the league, if the right technology was implemented to manage it.

MJ) What has surprised you the most about the league's success in the last two years?

AM) The only thing that has surprised me about the success of the league is the way so many have supported the concept of everyone not falling out, even when they have differing opinions. The majority realise they can go on any other boxing sites, forums, pages and have massive arguments, but very soon most learn not to within our league group.

I have been surprised that having built all of this up, that I have had such a brilliant response from many of the pro boxers we support, also promoters, managers etc, both here and abroad. I am also made to feel so welcome wherever I have been. I have made so many new acquaintances, and a lot of people I gladly call friends now.

MJ) When did you first learn you had a serious illness and what is the situation with your cancer now?

AM) I was diagnosed in April (after feeling poorly), with small cell lung cancer, and sadly it is one of the fastest growing of the cancers, it had already spread too far to operate or cure. I was told if it had been diagnosed only a couple of weeks later, it would have been too late, and that my only hope was to start chemotherapy immediately, which I chose to do.


I had an 18 week course and then got re-scanned. They decided the next approach was to have two weeks of radiotherapy on my brain, as the tumours are threatening to spread there. I completed that five weeks ago.

The results from this have been positive in as much as they state nothing had worsened, which is as good news as I could have expected to hear.
I am now on a course of steroids and other tablets, to help alleviate some side effects brought on by the treatment, and I must go back to the Oncologist in two weeks to see how things are looking.
MJ) You are currently organising a fund raiser for December 4th in Birmingham. How did the idea of that come about and how incredible has the response been from the boxing community?

AM) Jane Couch MBE, a close friend of mine, thought it would be nice for us to organise something where the boxers and league members would get a chance to meet, as she knows it was something I had planned to set up on an annual basis and in different locations. It would be nice to think it will be bigger and more successful than I had hoped for, and that it could be possibly carried on each year, even if it's in my absence. The response has been immense with so much more support for me than I would ever have thought possible.

MJ) Can you talk a little about how your family has supported you through the last six months?

AM) I am extremely lucky to have brilliant family and friends to support me. My wife, my two children, brother, sister, niece, nephews, step children and everyone else including ex-wives; they have been there for me for anything I want or need and always will be. I couldn’t possibly hope for more. I have had a very lucky life, never wanting for anything and always having had the maximum support available to me in everything I have ever done.

MJ) All the best for the 4th Andrew and for your continued fight with cancer.

For further information on the event please contact Andrew via Facebook. All at Livefight wish this brave man well for his future and hope the charity event is the huge success it looks like being.

[Ratchet Exits Nu]

[The Enforcer]

Thinking Of You Andrew. All The Very Best On The 4th.