Ana Apatu: Plan is to create every-day champs

Ana Apatu

My U-Turn Trustees meet. Chairman Rex Graham, Tracee Te Huia, Lawrence Yule, and apologies from Taine Randell - (no surprises there, busy with the Rugby World Cup).

We have a busy agenda and reflect on how much work we have. Prioritising is difficult with so much to do. "Over-delivering," my mate Henare O'Keefe declares. We all agree the Flaxmere Boxing Academy (FBA) is going extremely well. I reflect with Henare after the meeting of our achievements.

Henare said he could envisage what the academy would look like. I want it to reflect Flaxmere people's needs and successes. I want people to walk in and feel as if they are home and that they are loved. Personally, I could be having a stink day and feel tired just thinking about running a boxing session but the energy and commitment of those who come energise me every time.

I love being around the goodwill, love, empathy and compassion for each other. What is it that makes people respond so well, I want to know? Henare believes it is because no one is judged or condemned.

One of my trustees tells us her niece has lost 35kg, as one example of how well individuals are responding. The most magic (Henare) is the number of women coming in - wives, mothers, partners. We were duty-bound to open our attendance to women. Often our men are in jail and our women are providing the mother/father/provider role. They need to be acknowledged for this.

Often I visit men in prison and if they feel sorry for themselves I remind them of their partners having to do things alone. "Listen, you have a roof over your head, three square meals, and support. Think about your wife/partner battling on their own out there."

Passion, enthusiasm and wanting to make a mark has just been lying latent: the Flaxmere Boxing Academy has been that release for some who attend. The numbers are going through the roof. From cradle to the grave, no age limits, no gender preference - it is for all.

We have not created champions in the ring (yet), however we have created champions out of the ring.

Really, that is what this is all about - creating champions outside the ring - in the home, in the school, healing, restoring, resuscitating reaffirming; FBA upholds our mantra in Flaxmere: "Flaxmere Heal Thyself".

Our kaupapa includes whomever comes in the door, stopping what we are doing to welcome all. A highlight was judging letters written by the children participating in the FBA. The letters were to be on "why I should win the bike". Thanks to Paul McCardle, Bikes in Schools champion, who donated bikes for FBA to give to those deserving.

Local policeman Mike and I were given the task of judging. One boy wrote that he deserved the bike because his parents did not own a car and he had to walk two kilometres to school, rain, hail or shine.

Another (overweight) boy rubbed his stomach, grinned, and told us it was fairly obvious why he should win. The winning boy wrote that if he won the bike he would share it with his cousins because none had a bike.

Photos on the wall are all good-news stories about Flaxmere people - calendar heroes are up on the wall, local identities. We now have a registered coach/trainer, Meryl Percell.

The continued support from our community has been fantastic. Jack Pritchard, ex-Mongrel Mob, is one of our most loyal supporters, working on a Saturday, Sunday, giving of his time. This is what FBA is all about.

We have people come from Havelock North, Taradale, Napier, someone originally from Saudi Arabia, blending together as one - regardless of background, class, status. FBA seems to hit a with those who attend. And so in closing:

"Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill." Muhammad Ali

-Ana Apatu is chief executive of the U-Turn Trust, based at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere.