Round Two: boxing mum returns to ring for NICU

A Norwich mum has returned to the boxing ring to raise funds for our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) which saved the life of her baby four years ago.

Jasmine and IslaJasmine Tobias stepped into the ring for the first time last April, to support the NICU at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where daughter Isla was born at just 24 weeks and spent the first five months of her life.

She was given only a 10% chance of survival after being born weighing just 1lb 4oz before undergoing surgery for a gut and bowel perforation.

Six months after her first fight, Jasmine, from Coltishall, returned to the ring in November after months of training at Tower Fitness in Norwich.

She said: “I was starting to doubt myself in the week leading up to the match but I knew I had to do it for the babies I was fundraising for at the hospital – they never give up so neither would I.”

The fight ended with a standing ovation for both competitors with Jasmine taking home the winner’s cup, and raising another almost £600 for NICU. In November 2022, Jasmine’s husband, Troy, also took part in his first fundraising boxing match, and the couple have now raised an amazing £7,275 with more fundraising events to come as Troy takes on the challenge of walking Hadrian’s Wall in May.

Jasmine said: “This time, I wanted to take part in the fight for my own reasons, and raise a little bit of money too at the same time.

“There’s something about stepping into that ring that makes me happy, and I’m so proud of myself for working hard in training, powering through the rounds and proving to myself I can do things if I put my mind and heart into them. That’s exactly what I want these children on the ward to remember when they grow up – no matter what they go through in life, they can do whatever they put their minds to.”

Julie Cooper, Head of Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the support of donors and fundraisers like Jasmine and Troy.

“With their help the N&N Hospitals Charity has been able to support even better care for NICU babies with grants totalling over £300,000 over the last five years.

“The Charity’s aim is to do even more, and we are currently fundraising for £500,000 towards providing additional accommodation for parents and families to be able to stay near to their baby or child while they are in hospital.”

For more information about the N&N Hospitals Charity and to support the work we do, contact charity@nnuh.nhs.uk