A father who had never boxed has raised £2,630 for a charity supporting people affected by crime – after it helped his wife through court proceedings over sexual abuse she suffered as a child.
Craig Hinde, 41, from Droylsden, Greater Manchester, trained for eight weeks before taking part in a white-collar boxing event in Manchester.
His wife Trish said Victim Support prepared her for court after she reported being sexually abused as a child by her father, Gerard King, who was convicted at Chester Crown Court in 2022.
Craig also said it had helped their son Jacob, 10, who took up boxing after being bullied, regain his sparring confidence, showing how trying mattered more than winning.
Trish, 38, said she had never been in a courtroom before and described the prospect as “terrifying”.
The lettings administrator said Victim Support talked her through what to expect and reassured her that it was acceptable to say she did not know or could not remember an answer.
“For people who have been through trauma, they often are terrified of not being believed,” she said.
But she said there was none of that feeling when speaking to the charity.
“It’s just acceptance and validation,” she said.
“There’s no judgment. They just help you through the process.”