Shropshire charity boxer Dana is an uppercut above

Dana Power was determined to mark his milestone birthday with a challenge he would never forget.

That meant scrapping it out in front of 500 fans at a charity boxing night in Shropshire.

Dana was among 20 fighting novices taking part in a craze that some have branded 'vanity boxing'. It involves people who have never boxed before training up for a one-off bout to raise money for charity.

The craze became popular even before former cricketer Andrew Flintoff took on the challenge for a TV documentary. But while Flintoff is still a relatively young man with good fitness, Dana admits that he was in at the deep end when he agreed to fight for the first time at the Park Inn, Telford.

Dana, of Cantreyn Drive, Bridgnorth, laced up his gloves as part of a 10-bout charity event in aid of Cancer Research UK – and ended up beating his opponent Andy 'Sausage' Gilkes.

The casthouse worker at Bridgnorth Aluminium, who turns 60 on October 23, has already raised £30,000 for charities by completing numerous runs and marathons.

Dana, who was back at work today, said: "I'm a bit sore today but I'm still absolutely buzzing. My only aim was to go the three rounds so to win was just unbelievable really. I was first up on the night so I was full of nerves but the crowd was absolutely amazing. All I could hear was people chanting my name."

Dana entered the ring with Puff the Magic Dragon blasting over the loud speaker, as a nod to his previous fundraising exploits raising money for Asthma UK, when he is usually dressed as the charity's mascot, Puff the Dragon.

He even went by the name of Dana 'Enter the Dragon' Power on the night.

Dana was one of three men from Bridgnorth fighting on the night – and it was 100 per cent win rate for town's stars as Luke Veal and Craig Bowen also emerged victorious.

All 10 fights were organised by Ultra White Collar Boxing and raised more than £5,000 for the cancer charity.