A woman who took up boxing is taking part in her first fight this evening in memory of her brother.

Ultra White Collar Boxing is hosting the black-tie event at Pryzm, Watford from 6pm and money raised is going to Cancer Research UK.

Lora Tonga, 44, who grew up in Watford and Bushey, was spurred on to make changes in her life after her 36-year-old brother’s sudden death last September.

Watford Observer: Lora Tonga and her brother who died from a heart attack last September. Lora Tonga and her brother who died from a heart attack last September. (Image: Lora Tonga)

She said: “I woke up four months later and felt like I wasn’t myself.

“I thought I needed to find something to help me get out of bed, I needed to feel alive again and I found boxing.”

The IT trainer was also inspired to take up the sport for her mum, “the strongest woman I know,” who has been bed bound for three years after suffering multiple stokes.

Watford Observer: Lora has only been boxing for eight weeks.Lora has only been boxing for eight weeks. (Image: Matt Cox)

She said: “I have never boxed in my life. I didn’t even know what sparring was.”

So far, Lora has raised £235, and she will be representing the St Albans team when she competes against a woman from the Hemel Hempstead group.

She said: “We can’t change what happened to my brother and I hope I can inspire people in the family to keep going.”