Melton Mowbray mum makes boxing match debut in aid of SSAFA

28 September 2026

Geva King-Lodge, 38, of Melton Mowbray will be stepping into the ring on Saturday 3rd October 2026 for her first ever boxing match, raising funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity - a cause close to her family’s heart. 

In 2011, Geva and her husband, Darren, 39, who was training to be an RAF General Technician (Mechanical) in Wales at the time, experienced the devastating loss of their son Archie when he was just 6 months old. The family were helped by SSAFA, with the charity covering Archie's funeral costs and offering further financial and emotional support to them at a time they needed it most. 

Fundraiser Geva, who is also mum to sons Reggie, Vinnie and daughter Bailie, said: "Between the Wing Commander stationed at St. Athens in 2011, Padre Lance and SSAFA, all stresses were taken away. SSAFA took away financial strain during a time in our lives we never thought we would face. I've always wanted to give back to the charity for that reason. It’s not a situation that anyone ever thinks they will have to deal with; SSAFA reached out to us and was so respectful and caring. I’m proud to be able to give back to a worthy charity." 

After enlisting one of her sons into a local boxing gym to help build his confidence, Geva found herself wanting to give the ring a try - starting out with joining the boxercise class three years ago.

When gym owner, Josh Quailey, announced plans for a charity boxing match, she knew she wanted to get involved and show her gratitude to SSAFA by taking on a completely new challenge. 

Geva added: "I've been doing martial arts since the age of six which is a different type of combat sport entirely. I hate the idea of fighting; I've never even been punched before! But I'm always doing different activities to push myself out of my comfort zone." 

The charity match will be held at the gym Geva trains in, The Unit located on Thorpe Road in Melton Mowbray, and will see around 20 male and female boxers participate in three 1.5-minute rounds. Each participant has chosen their own cause to raise money for. 

Geva continued: "This is my last fundraising activity of the year, as I fundraise a lot for the hospital Archie was at in Wales, but I wanted to go out with a bang and do something a bit different and support a cause with a connection to our son. Before we needed SSAFA, we weren't overly familiar with the charity, so now is my time to give something back, especially as the wife of former serving personnel."

No stranger to commitment, Geva is expertly juggling family life, work, her fundraising challenges and her training commitments. A self-confessed fitness fan, she has a gruelling training plan to prepare her for the match which sees her sparring three evenings a week, training at either the gym or boxing five mornings per week and building in target runs in the lead up to her fighting debut. If that wasn't enough, Geva has also tackled the 3 Peaks Challenge in aid of SSAFA this month, too.

To add some fun to her ring walk, she's now raffling off 100 squares, with each square giving donors the chance to choose her fighting name.

Having already achieved her initial fundraising goal of £500, Geva has set her sights on a new target, hoping to reach £1,000 in donations ahead of her boxing match. She's determined to complete her challenge so that SSAFA can continue to help the entire Armed Forces community - serving and retired, regulars and reserves, and their families - just as it has since 1885.