SHE'S only 5ft tall and tips the scales at a mere six stones but petite Saira Jabeen is learning how to pack a punch.
The 43-year-old, who co-owns the Pavilion Cafe at Bradford City Park, has taken up the sport of boxing to help beat cancer.
Saira Jabeen is training for a charity boxing match to raise funds for cancer research
Calling herself Saira Pocket Rocket Jabeen, she will be entering the boxing ring for the first time at an Ultra White Collar Boxing event at Valley Parade next month.
About 1,000 tickets have already been sold for the tournament on Saturday, March 19, in aid of Cancer Research UK.
Ms Jabeen took on the challenge after seeing it on Facebook and signed up for eight-weeks intensive training at Abusin's Muay Thai Boxing Gym in Johnson Street, off Killinghall Road, Undercliffe, where she goes three times a week.
"I've never done anything like this before," she said.
Saira Jabeen is learning how to pack a punch
"I already go to a gym but I was looking for another challenge to help me get fit. The cancer charity is also very close to my heart."
When she was 15, her mother Aksar Jan was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy.
"There was no other treatment at that time really. Us children were sent off to relatives to be looked after so we didn't see how ill our mum was. She survived the breast cancer and she's 80 now but she has had other forms of cancer over the years.
"It doesn't matter what kind of lifestyle you have, cancer doesn't discriminate," Ms Jabeen said.
"You could go to the gym and eat healthy but it doesn't guarantee you won't get it.
"I have customers at the cafe who tell me about their experiences. One lady has just reached 20 years of being free from the disease, another man has just been diagnosed with leukaemia. It can touch anyone's life."
Saira Jabeen is training hard for a charity boxing match to raise funds for cancer research
As well as the boxing training, she regularly goes to another gym and is building up her strength, fuelling her energy with five meals a day and snacks but no junk food.
"There's lots of bananas, oats, chicken, rice and carbohydrates in there and nuts. I'm learning to pack a powerful punch now. It's about twisting your body, using your whole body and legs - not just using your arms," she said.
Saira Jabeen takes a break from training
Anyone who wants to sponsor her can sign up at the Pavilion Cafe or go to justgiving.com/Saira-Jabeen
The Pavilion is also hosting a Spa Day on Sunday, February 28, from noon until about 6pm with beauty treatments, hair and nail make-overs in return for donations to Cancer Research UK.
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