Boxing star Luke on why he’s backing battling mum

OLYMPIC CHAMP VISITS FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR BABIES’ INTENSIVE CARE

Luke Campbell with Linzi Cropper. Right, Linzi with ‘miracle’ baby Frankie BOXING star Luke Campbell has revealed why he was keen to support a Hull mum’s fundraiser in aid of a city baby unit.

The Olympic champion attended a family fun day organised by Linzi Cropper, whose 2lb “miracle” baby, Frankie, was in Hull Women and Children’s Hospital neonatal intensive care unit for 74 days after being born at just 26 weeks.

Campbell was pleased to accept Linzi’s invitation to attend the fundraiser, held at Busy Bees Day Nursery in Beverley.

Campbell, 31, said: “My first-born was born five weeks early, so this fundraiser was a good cause.

“There’s so much worry for the parents when they have an early birth. The hospital staff do a marvellous job, they work all hours. It’s a pleasure to be able to support good things like that.”

The fundraiser came just a week after Campbell fought in Philadelphia, beating Adrian Young in a warm-up fight for an expected world title shot this summer.

He says: “I am always away in training camps and out of the city, so when I do get a bit of time it’s lovely to be able to show some support and get out to see my fans.

“If I have got time, doing things like that makes everyone happy, it’s just a good thing to do.”

Linzi was delighted Hull’s Olympic gold medallist was able to attend the fundraiser, held at Busy Bees Day Nursery in Beverley, where she is a nursery nurse.

Saturday’s event raised more than £1,000, bringing the total raised for the unit to £2,505.

Linzi said: “It was great of Luke Campbell to attend. He even had a go on the hang bars in the fair.

“There were loads of people who attended. I can’t thank everyone enough who has donated prizes, had a stall, bought raffle tickets and who helped and supported me raise that amount of cash.”

More than 3,500 raffle tickets were sold, with the amount raised exceeding expectations.

Linzi says: “I never thought I’d get that much, I set my target in Justgiving at £500.

“Thank you attended.”

The mum of two, of Sutton Park, was just 26 weeks pregnant when she went into labour last October.

Linzi and her partner Andy Rolfe could not hold their tiny baby for five days, as Frankie went straight into intensive care and onto a ventilator.

Linzi vowed to raise funds and awareness for the neonatal intensive care unit, which has 26 cots for premature and sick babies.

“I didn’t even know what the neonatal ward did until we ended up needing it,” says Linzi. to everyone who