A South Yorkshire woman has stepped into the boxing ring for the first time to honour her best friend.

Luci Cresswell, 22, from Swinton, Rotherham, took part in an Ultra White Collar Boxing event at Doncaster Racecourse in memory of her best friend Jamie Channings, who tragically died by suicide in 2024, aged just 31. After eight weeks of gruelling training, Luci won her debut bout and raised £1,920 for the Mental Health Foundation. But for Luci taking on the challenge was about far more than learning to box or even winning in front of a crowd. Luci said: “Two years ago I lost my best friend and since then I’ve felt like I needed to do something to make a difference. It wasn’t just a want – it really felt like a mission. “As well as raising money, I wanted to encourage others to open up more about mental health and reach out if they need support.” It was a way to turn the pain of losing someone she loved into something that could help others facing their own mental health struggles. Luci said: “Two years ago I lost my best friend and since then I’ve felt like I needed to do something to make a difference. It wasn’t just a want – it really felt like a mission. “As well as raising money, I wanted to encourage others to open up more about mental health and reach out if they need support.”