Paid-members

Boxing Champion Lesley Sackey: Her Journey and Harnessing Boxing to Heal Women

We are using what is typically considered a violent sport to heal women who have experienced violence. The program helps women reclaim consent over their own bodies and voices, connect with their bodies in a healing way, find community and connection and process trauma through physical movement.

Disruptors Sports

Violet Simon

by Violet Simon

February 19, 2025 ∙ 4 min read

Boxing Champion Lesley Sackey: Her Journey and Harnessing Boxing to Heal Women — **Lesley Sackey.** Photo by Daniel Alexander Harris

I am Irish-Ghanaian—my mum is from Ireland, and my dad is from Ghana. I think looking at those two cultures, I really benefited from being a boxer. They both possess a very strong warrior spirit energy in both cultures, which I feel reflects in my choice of sport.

Growing up, I was raised with two boys, which benefited me in terms of walking into the boxing gym. It prepared me to be comfortable in a very male-dominated environment. However, I was not into sports when I was young. In fact, it was the opposite—I always had a note to get out of PE.

By transforming my own experience of abuse and using boxing as a healing tool, I am creating new pathways for other women to heal and recover.

This post is only for paying members only

Become a paying Disruptors member to read this post and gain access to more exclusive stories, events, opportunities and community while supporting an independent media company.