NICOLA ADAMS FINDS HER HAPPY PLACE

Nicola Adams OBE is Great Britain’s first ever female Olympic boxing champion, carrying two gold medals under her belt, as well as a raft of European, Commonwealth and professional world titles. Fight for Peace first teamed up with Nicola in 2012, and in 2015 she became our Ambassador, working together with us to raise awareness of the work that we do and inspire our young people in pursuit of their goals.

Six years on, as part of the National Lottery Open Week campaign, Nicola has named the boxing ring at the Fight for Peace London Academy the place she has missed the most during the COVID-19 pandemic – her Happy Place! 

Despite the physical distances we have had to maintain since March 2020, last month we were delighted to be able to welcome Nicola back into our London Academy with open arms, as she posed in our ring for a series of portraits by renowned photographer Tom Oldham. We were so touched by this gesture, and are happy to know that the safe and welcoming space we strive to always provide has been recognised by such a prestigious figure.

The National Lottery Open Week campaign sets out to say thank you to the National Lottery players who raise £30 million every week and in doing so support some amazing venues and organisations. Campaign ambassadors were asked to share the place that they have missed visiting the most during the pandemic.  

“For me it was Fight for Peace. It’s a charity I’ve worked with since the 2012 Olympics,” Nicola told Lorraine on the morning television show this week. “They help get young people into sport, and into education, and help them find jobs…so that for me was my happy place.”

It was a great pleasure having Nicola back in our gym and ring, and we are so proud to have her on our team, supporting our work globally. We have missed welcoming her to our Academy for sessions, which in recent years have included a workshop with our Lutadoras – a group that encourages and promotes personal growth and development among young women and girls – and a special mixed ability boxing session. As a pioneer in her sport and a double Olympic gold medal winning athlete, Nicola has had a profoundly inspiring impact on not only the young women at Fight for Peace, but on all our young people and staff.

As a longstanding member of the Fight for Peace family, Nicola has continued to work in unison with our values, supporting our mission to help champion the power and potential of young people. We have seen first-hand the impact Nicola’s contribution has had on Fight for Peace, and we feel great pride that she has chosen our boxing ring and gym as her Happy Place.  

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