A MOTHER-of-two is preparing to become a knockout success in memory of the father to her little girls following his death in a car crash.

Jayne Stephenson has been training to pack a punch during an upcoming amateur boxing match to raise money for a charity close to her heart.

On February 24, 2008, Miss Stephenson’s partner of eight years, Andrew Dodds, was revived at the roadside by medics from the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) after Mr Dodds’ Audi A4 crashed on Low Lane, near Yarm.

The 28-year-old father-of-two, who was known for his dry sense of humour, his love of music, comedy, films and gadgets, was flown to James Cook University Hospital by GNAAS following the accident.

Miss Stephenson, 32, from Ingleby Barwick, said: “GNAAS did everything they could.

“They revived him on the roadside before taking him to James Cook University Hospital but he suffered multiple injuries and died later in the hospital.

“Andrew was a fun-loving man who was a really great dad to our two little girls Isabelle and Bethany, who were aged three and one at the time.”

Miss Stephenson, a housing manager for Thirteen Group, has since vowed to fundraise for GNAAS that relies solely on donations to keep the service airborne.

The energetic 32-year-old decided to take on an eight-week True White Collar Boxing programme, overseen by Teesside Muay Thai Gym, Middlesbrough, which offers free training to would-be boxers raising at least £50 for charity.

She said: “I did the same thing around a year ago because I really wanted to challenge myself and improve my fitness levels.

“The training is gruelling, but I’m going to pay for extra lessons because I really want to win.”

Miss Stephenson is yet to find out who her opponent for her three-round boxing bout will be, however she is taking inspiration from friends and family, including her two little girls.

She added: “I’m so nervous. I don’t know who I will be competing with until two days before the event but it will be an amateur boxer who has had the same training as me.

“Some of my family and work colleagues will be there on the night so I’ll have two tables of supporters cheering me on.

“They say I’m brave and stupid but they also really hope I win because I’m so competitive.”

The 32-year-old has set up an online donation page in a bid to gather support for the cause ahead of her charity match on Saturday, March 25, in Eston Sports Village, off Normanby Road, Middlesbrough.

Miss Stephenson added: “GNAAS is an invaluable service and more awareness needs to be raised about the charity as it requires so many donations.

“You don’t realise how much effort goes into raising the funds that keeps them going.

“I think a lot of people just assume it will always be there and don’t think about the cost of keeping it running.”

The mother-of-two has so far raised almost half of her £450 target.

To donate to Miss Stephenson’s GNAAS fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/jayne-stephenson6