Medically dead in 2008, boxer Cheavon ‘Chev’ Clarke reached the quarterfinal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014

Cheavon Clarke trained three times a day to reach a milestone in his life as the young boxer competed in 81kg category of boxing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this year.

Known as ‘Chev’ to his friends, the boxer has a duel British and Jamaican passport after he moved to the UK when he was 11 but life was not always a bed of roses for the 23-year-old.

Back in 2008 he clinically died for a second following complications after an appendix operation. This incident changed his life – he stopped getting in fights against other kids in his school and started to use his talent to win boxing bouts.

“I died, but luckily the doctors saved my life. After that my life changed because I met youth workers at the local community centre and charity Fight 4 Change and they helped me improve my life.”

“It all started from there, I started to train proper at my local boxing club in Gravesend which was attached to Fight 4 Change.”

Growing up in Croydon and Peckham in London before moving to Gravesend in Kent, Chev started working more closely with Fight 4 Change and soon it became his second home as he regularly trained at their headquarters in Lambeth, coached youngsters and acted as their ambassador including visits on their behalf to the Houses of Parliament.

Chev continued to develop his talents, deciding along the way that university was not for him, instead aiming and training to become a world champion boxer.

“I’m going to become a world champion by the time I turn 27; I have the talent and I am willing to put the effort into my training.”

Rebecca Donnelly, CEO for Fight 4 Change, was one of the team that helped coach Chev, she also helped him gain coaching accreditation certificates including the NVQ Level 2 Gym Instructor and Boxing Tutor award.

A former Thai world boxing champion, Rebecca runs Fight 4 Change from the Black Prince Community Hub in Lambeth with other coaches to help struggling young people every day.

“We changed a lot of people’s lives and through our experience we teach others how to changes their life,” she explained. “If they are willing to listen and let us help them, we will help them and go the extra mile.

“I have known Chev for years and it has been a pleasure seeing him developing both physically and personally.”