AN inspirational woman is set to take on a London half marathon in her wheelchair to raise funds for disabled and disadvantaged youngsters.
Luiz Faye, founder of Kronik Warrior UK CIC, will complete the 13.1-mile course as part of Variety GB’s Voices for Change campaign.
The boxing pioneer - who spent a decade as a police officer - was medically retired from the force in 2017.
A degenerative condition affecting her spine, pelvis and legs means she now uses a wheelchair.
It was during rehab with her personal trainer that she decided to give boxing a go and since she has opened up the sport to those it was previously closed to thanks to her adaptive boxing classes.
However, with less than three weeks to go until the London Landmarks Half Marathon on April 12, the Thurnscoe-based team faces a race against time to raise vital funds.
Their goal is to raise £1,000 to fund Kronik Warrior’s ‘Snack-Box’ sessions across South Yorkshire.
These sessions combine adaptive boxing with creative food activities, giving disabled and disadvantaged young people a safe, structured space to build confidence, skills and community.
Sessions have already been delivered locally at the Salvation Army in Goldthorpe and Base 71 in the town centre, with demand continuing to grow.
With £800 still needed and race day fast approaching, the final weeks of fundraising are critical.
Luiz said: “This isn’t about the race itself, it’s about what it unlocks for the young people we work with.
“Snack-Box sessions give them a space to move, create and connect in a way that works for them.
“Keeping those sessions free is everything.
“We’ve seen first-hand what these sessions do in places like Goldthorpe and Base 71.
“Now we just need the support to keep them going.
“When I began my adaptive boxing journey, the physical and emotional benefits I experienced far outweighed those of any sport that I had taken part in before.”
Kronik Warrior delivers over 500 inclusive sport and wellbeing sessions each year, working with schools and community organisations across South Yorkshire.
“I could talk all day about the benefits of boxing, it’s not just the physical benefits but the transferable skills that they can use in other areas, such as applying breath work techniques in job interviews,” Luiz added.
“It’s about helping people build confidence, giving them the tools and empowering them to be able to make healthy choices and to exercise independently.
“My mission is to make adaptive boxing accessible to everyone, to help existing boxing clubs become more inclusive and to help develop this into a recognised safe, regulated adaptive sport.”
