AN inspirational woman who took on a London half marathon in her wheelchair to raise funds for disabled and disadvantaged youngsters completed the feat in just over two hours.
Luiz Faye, founder of Thurnscoe-based Kronik Warrior UK CIC, completed the 13.1-mile London Landmarks Half Marathon 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 having endured a degenerative condition affecting her spine, pelvis and legs.
She completed the half marathon in a time of two hours, 34 minutes and 59 seconds - and was the first female to cross the line.
Her husband, Martin, ran alongside her, and she also bumped into Barnsley-born Love Island star Tom Clare.
Luiz told the Chronicle: “It was amazing - I was the second person to cross overall and the first female.
“In 2023, we completed a joint endurance challenge to raise awareness of the mental health and suicide prevention benefits of adaptive boxing.
“That challenge reflected exactly what Kronik Warrior stands for: resilience, access and shared strength.
“We both live with diagnosed PTSD and use structured sport and wellbeing as essential tools for managing our physical and mental health.
“Kronik Warrior is not just an organisation we run - it is something we live every day.
“Funds raised through this challenge will directly support inclusive Variety Voices for Change sessions delivered in partnership with Kronik Warrior UK CIC.
“These sessions provide adaptive sport and wellbeing support for young people who may otherwise be excluded from mainstream opportunities.
“So the half marathon was not just about distance, it represents recovery, inclusive sport and what happens when communities invest in access rather than limitation.”
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.
Kronik Warrior delivers over 500 inclusive sport and wellbeing sessions each year - particularly boxing - 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.”
