Lauren Burnett, who has battled with addiction since the age of 14, is due to take part in Saturday’s White Collar Boxing Peaky Blinders event organised by Transform Together. The event – tickets for which are on sale until midnight tonight – is raising money for Silkworth Lodge, which works with men and women affected by drug and alcohol addiction and their families.
Former Commonwealth champion Kevin Mitchell is due to be the special guest at the event at the Royal Jersey Showground and present the trophies to the winners.
‘I remember being in the depths of addiction and my brother, Alex, was a boxer. I’d see how he’d train for his fights, running up steep hills when I could barely walk up the stairs without getting out of breath,’ said Ms Burnett, who has spoken out about her experience of addiction in the past to raise awareness.
‘We used to watch the Ringside and 24/7 Sky Sports boxing shows when a big fight was coming up. The boxers always trained to war music – I used to find it so motivating but always thought I haven’t even got enough lung capacity to walk to the shops. I used to think if I could use that same fight to get off drugs maybe I could be fit one day.
‘When I was 30 days clean I joined a gym and fell in love with my personal trainer, Tom – I know, how clichéd!
‘Tom was also a boxer and I loved the mindset boxers needed to have – determination, discipline, respect, self-belief and confidence. I was drawn to that mindset.
‘Seven years later, two kids, a house and two businesses – and when Tom said he wanted to organise a white-collar boxing event with the gym he co-owns, Transform Together, and the chosen charity being Silkworth Lodge, the only 12-step rehabilitation centre in the Channel Isles, I felt compelled to support and fight on the show.’
Oi Jersey is sponsoring Ms Burnett – the founder of clothing business Luella Rockerfella – but she said it had been difficult to juggle family life with training.
‘Training has been difficult, as both Tom and I are training for a fight while working with the kids, but we hope to show our children discipline and inspire them that through hard work and dedication they can achieve their dreams too,’ she said.
‘Tom had met me when I was still early in recovery and has seen the struggles that living with addiction brings. You often learn unhealthy coping mechanisms and struggle with non co-dependent relationships, but together we got over each hurdle.’
She added: ‘I intend to fight in the ring with the same momentum I fight addiction on a daily basis.’
Silkworth Lodge chief executive Jason Wyse is also taking part in the event. For more information visit ttwhitecollarboxing.com. Tickets, which cost from £100, are available until midnight tonight.
