Boxing at PCYC Queensland wasn’t just a sport for Leah, it was a lifeline.
By age 12, Leah was facing over 100 criminal charges and trapped in a cycle of battling addiction and destructive choices. But with the guidance of Sergeant Kelly Chamberlain, Youth & Community Program Manager at PCYC Cairns, and the discipline of boxing, she changed her course.
Sergeant Kelly recalls how Leah “actually came across my desk being portrayed as an at-risk young person in need of a program... I could see this amazing person underneath a pretty broken girl."
Now, Leah believes that having access to free youth development programs is crucial for at-risk young people. Many first experience boxing through our After Dark youth development program. A free activity designed for young people aged 12-18 who are disengaged from their community, family, or school.
Having the right guidance from positive mentors, opportunities and access to safe, inclusive spaces like our PCYC clubs, at-risk young Queenslanders like Leah can continue to raise their gaze.
Watch Leah’s Story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NFtGCEc5pk
“PCYC wrapped themselves around me at a really crucial time in my life. It’s all about having support from someone like Kelly, having something positive to focus on, and knowing you can get past the hard times.”— says Leah.
Helping to change the lives of young Queenslanders, PCYC Queensland needs your support.
Every ticket sold will help us to:
- Expand our youth development programs to reach more at-risk, disadvantaged and disengaged young people
- Expand our Indigenous programs, which work closely with local communities in some of the most remote parts of Queensland
- Continue our presence from the Gold Coast to Cape York as we build safer, healthier communities.
