A JERSEY business owner is preparing for his third White Collar Boxing fight in memory of his best friend, raising money for the charity that supported him and his family through cancer.
Ethan Rosseau (26), who runs the Quirky Retro Vintage clothes shop, is supporting CLIC Sargent (Jersey) after Alex Collier died earlier this year aged 25 following a battle with sarcoma.
The charity helps children and young people up to the age of 25 affected by cancer, as well as their families.
Mr Rosseau met Mr Collier at Highlands College in their teens and remembers a friend whose quiet manner gave way to warmth and humour.
“He was an incredibly kind, caring and thoughtful man,” he said.
“When you first met him, he wasn’t one for social interactions. He was the guy who stayed silent, but when you got past that initial encounter, what emerged was a guy with charisma, jokes and sheer presence about him.”
Having also seen cancer affect his own family, Mr Rosseau said the demands of preparing for the ring were put into perspective by what others faced.
“I feel as though taking on a ten-week training camp and a boxing match pales in comparison to the hardship of a family going through something like cancer,” he said.
A former MMA competitor, Mr Rosseau was drawn to White Collar Boxing by his love of combat sports.
Now fighting under the name “The Showman”, he relishes the atmosphere of fight night.
“My main goal is to walk out that ring with my head held high, knowing I fought all I could every second,” he said.
“Not just for CLIC Sargent (Jersey), not just me, but for my family, my friends and, most importantly, Alex and his family.”
Joanne McNulty, an ambassador for CLIC Sargent (Jersey), said: “Our charity is run by volunteers.
“All the money raised goes directly towards young Islanders affected by cancer.
“Thanks to people like Ethan, we can continue supporting families in need.”
Mr Rosseau hopes people will support his Jersey Giving fundraiser through donations and by sharing his story, helping others discover the support available.
Above all, he wants to honour the friend who continued to smile through difficult times.
“If you knew Alex, you knew this man never showed his pain,” he said.
“Whenever I saw him, he always had a smile. He never showed how hard anything was for him.”
You can donate to Mr Rosseau’s Jersey Giving Fundraiser here.
