Luke Herries

At the Hastings Giants Boxing Academy there are plenty of incredible kids to be inspired by. One of them is 17-year-old Luke Herries, who had struggled through his teenage years before joining the academy a year ago.

Once lost and unsure about his future, Luke is now enlisting in the army, a path he never thought possible before Giant's manager Craig McDougall’s influence. “He’s a great and real growth model to me. The way he leads, his kindness, he inspires me,” Luke said. “The academy completely changed my life. It gave me self-discipline, a strong community, good influences and good leaders. It’s more than physical fitness, it’s also about mental strength.”

Luke’s father, Dan Herries, saw the transformation firsthand. “He got his glow back,” Herries said. Initially hesitant about his son joining a combat sport, he quickly realised it was not about fighting. “It was a connection, brotherhood, personal health, and just awesome mentorship,” he said. “Now Luke has realised the potential that we saw in him as a young boy. He’s a contributor to society ... and we’re awfully proud of the changes he's made.”

‍