Stoke local Calista McCready boxing clever for SSAFA

18 October 2021

Stoke-on-Trent local Calista McCready is fundraising for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity in memory of her late grandfather by taking up the noble art – and entering a boxing tournament, her first, on Saturday October 23 at F.A.N. Boxing Academy in Stoke.

Although Calista, 21, has been boxing and sparring for fitness and fun for three years, this will be her first boxing match. Demonstrating her dedication, she has been training diligently and managing to squeeze it in in free time – which for someone who is a full-time student, a part-time restaurant team leader, and a special constable is no mean feat.

Explaining her reasons for supporting SSAFA, Calista said: “Although I’ve been boxing for three years, I never had the courage to box in a proper match, but when I found out about the charity match, I thought ‘Why not?’

“But I needed to do it for a charity that meant a lot to me, a charity that encapsulated all the reasons why I wanted to raise money. I began thinking of my granddad, Dennis Brereton. He was in the RAF in telecommunications here and overseas, and passed in August this year. The Armed Forces were always a big part of Granddad’s life, and a cause which he supported, so I thought ‘I’ll do this for my granddad and for SSAFA’.”

The loss of her grandfather has been hard for Calista, and she said that her family and friends have all supported her during this sad time, saying: “My dad especially has helped the process by talking and remembering on my granddad’s life, while work allowed me the time off to recover and have done anything they could to ease the process.”

Calista said that she is feeling nervous about her début bout, adding: “However, I’m also fuelled because it’s for SSAFA, which is such a great cause, and that takes away some of the fight night anxiety.

“I must thank, too, my trainers for making me believe I can achieve it, and for giving me the confidence. Especially the kind words from the wonderful women at Beast Mode Boxing, who instilled what my trainers Craig and Marie were already saying to me.”

The charity evening takes place on Saturday, October 23 at F.A.N. Boxing Academy, Unit 3, Crownford Works, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 4BA. Doors open at 6.30pm, there is a £5 entry fee, and will be light buffet and a raffle to raise more funds.