HATTON’S CITY DATE

A businessman hopes to give a toddler a fighting chance as he heads up a night of boxing entertainment.

Jonathan Hayes will welcome former champion turned promotor Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton to an evening of entertainment at the Stadium of Light in September.

The cash raised will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust in honour of two-year-old Elliot Page, who was diagnosed with the condition shortly after his birth.

It means the toddler has to take up to 40 tablets a day.

Since they were told of his illness, his family has rallied round to back the charity, which funds research and supports families.

Jonathan has decided to back the fund through his company First Class Memorabilia.

The 31-year-old from Barnes is planning a raffle and auction at the dinner, which will be held in the stadium’s Montgomery Suite on Friday, September 2.

Jonathan said: “I was looking for a charity to support and I decided on the Cystic Fibrosis Trust beic, cause I know this little boy with cystic fibrosis.

“I know the charity has been really supportive of the family and do some great work.”

Elliot, from Doxford Park, has already sparked a series of fundraising events in his name to boost the funds of the trust.

The efforts by dad Chris, 35, who works at Nissan, and mum Nadine, 37, who works for a business consultancy, along with brother Domin- six, and their friends and family have already raised more than £27,000 for the charity.

Chris said: “I think the night itself will be absolutely brilliant.

“We keep asking the same people to come along and support us and we’ve already had a ball at the Roker Hotel which was a sell out, so we hope this will be too, and that other people out there will come along and enjoy it.”

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease affecting almost 10,000 people in the UK.

It causes the lungs and digestive system to become clogged with a thick, sticky mucus, causing serious problems as it progresses and often leads to the need for a lung transplant.

Platinum tables for 12 at the event are £900, which includes a two-course meal with wine and beer on the table and a group photo with Ricky.

Individual tickets for the night, which starts at 7pm, are £50 each.

They are available from www.firstclassmemorabilia.co.uk/.

“I think the night itself will be absolutely brilliant” CHRIS PAGE

Chris Page, left, and son Elliot, with charity event organiser Jonathan Hayes, hope the night with Ricky Hatton will be a success.

Ricky Hatton is coming to Sunderland to speak at a dinner event held at the Stadium of Light.