Bella first came to Inspire after a horrific bullying experience left her unable to leave the house.
Struggling with her mental health, she joined one of our 12-week personal development programmes, and it turned her life around.
Years later, the impact that Inspire had on Bella is still so great that she wanted to do something to give back. So when she started training for a boxing match, Inspire was the obvious choice to fundraise for.
Last year, she decided to join a gym to help her with her mental health. After joining a body transformation course, she started boxing lessons and fell in love with the sport.
Following a 12-week intensive training course, Bella took on her first ever fight – and won.
“The adrenaline was so great that I don’t remember too much of my match,” Bella said. “I remember the cheers from all the family and friends I had come and support me, and I remember that I won.”
She raised almost £600 for her match, and explained the reason she wanted to fundraise was because of the effect Inspire has had on her life.
“Before I went to Inspire, for six months I couldn’t leave the house,” she said.
“I was petrified of everyone, I couldn’t speak to a single person, and now I have a job I love, and I had the confidence to go out in front of hundreds of people and do a boxing match. Before Inspire I never would have believed I could have done something like this.”
She continued: “Without Inspire, I wouldn’t be where I am today, I wouldn’t be here and be able to do a 12 week intense camp, and get out in a ring in front of hundreds of people, and talk in front of all those people.
After her time on the Team Programme, Bella got a job as a plumber, and is continuing to thrive in her role.
“I’m now a fully qualified gas engineer too,” she said. “I passed all my exams this year, it’s been a big year.”
She’s also dedicated to continue boxing, adding: “I love the fitness side of it, it’s such a disciplined sport, and there’s so much more to it than just punching a bag.
“It’s helped my mental health so much. Not just the physical side of things, and I’ve also made so many friends at the gym. It was like doing another 12 week Team Programme, but doing fitness rather than confidence building.”
Want to fundraise for Inspire? Check out our Ways to Fundraise
