After rebounding from homelessness, a New Brunswick man has fought his way back into the ring by opening a brand new boxing studio.
Chris Peters launched East Coast Boxing in July. But he says it didn't come along easily.
"I come from a single mother family. She contracted cancer when I was young. She grew up in an orphanage on Lansdowne. Never knew any relatives, so when she passed away when I was 17 it was just me myself and I," says Peters.
Peters says with no one to turn to, he was soon sleeping in stairwells around Saint John. After his daughter was born, he decided to turn his life around.
"It took a few years,” Peters says. “I ran with the wrong crowds and had to see my way through the fog, I guess. But so far so good. I got a beautiful little girl out of the deal, so something’s right."
The studio already has half a dozen sponsors since its launch two months ago. Peters says that allows him to provide clothing and gloves for underprivileged kids.
"A lot of the parents that come in, they say their kids are battling with depression and low self-esteem,” Peters says.
Peters holds all of his classes as soon as the students get out of school.
"I was getting pushed around out on the playground and stuff and I came here and started punching the bag. It's a stress reliever,” says young boxer Dakota Kinney.
"The kids are very important because sometimes they are going through bullying and it really just helps like strengthen their confidence,” says Peters’ daughter, Lily.
Chris Peters is hoping to expand his sponsorship program, ensuring no kid is left out of the ring.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Mary Cranston.
