Capabilities not disabilities for 16-year-old

For Briana Stewart, forming and maintaining friendships has been a life-long struggle.

So when her mum Mandy reached out on social media for help to make Briana’s 16th birthday special, Victory Boxing answered the call.

Briana has attended Victory Boxing for around six years and has become a solid part of the Victory whānau.

Briana now helps with coaching the primary and intermediate classes, after having outgrown the classes herself.

On Thursday, when Briana thought she was turning up for her regular training with the kids, what she actually walked into was a surprise birthday party.

“It was a collective response to mum asking for something for her daughter to celebrate who she is as a person and really make her feel like she really does belong somewhere,” says trainer Shaz Nicholls. “And Victory Boxing is the place where she belongs.”

Being a person who loves sports, her party was attended by Tasman Mako players and Nelson Giants head coach Mike Fitchett, who presented her with a shirt and singlet from their respective teams.

“I was really shocked, I was not expecting this,” Briana said humbly of the celebration.

She says she is a regular attendee at Giants’ games and is looking forward to donning her singlet at the next game. She says what she loves about Victory Boxing is that it uplifts her.

“I just love it.”

“She always says this whole group is like her family,” Mandy says. “Because they’re absolutely amazing with her. She’s got a lot more confidence since joining, she’s amazing, she’s just the most amazing girl.”

Shaz says Briana’s making an impact on the girl’s group just by being herself.

“With her confidence and just showing her own capabilities and how she has stepped up to train the girls. She’s breaking down barriers and opinions and all amazing things.

“There’s no such thing as disabilities in her world, it’s capabilities,” Shaz says.

Mandy says the surprise meant “absolutely everything in the world” to her daughter.