Liam McNally
Professional Boxer Kate McLaren visited the Melton Willows Assisted Residential Centre on Wednesday, May 3, to deliver a free mental health and wellbeing session with Smart Body Australia.
Ms McLaren, the current NSW and Australasian Title holder was visiting on behalf of her new not-for-profit organisation It’s Her.
She said she was “honoured” to attend the day that featured a meet and greet, mental health talks, a quiz and boxing activities for residents of the centre.
It’s Her focuses on empowering young females through movement, mindset, and motivation and teaches boxing, breath work and meditation, and helps build support systems and future progress.
The program is also in the process of building an online platform so tools and lessons can be accessed at any time.
Ms McLaren said It’s Her grew from her experience volunteering at Tszyu Boxing academy, running programs for young females from disadvantaged communities.
“I started to realise that these girls were really unsupported and were looking to me as a trainer and also a mentor,” she said.
“I just want to help people, I was someone that was very unsupported, back in 2020 the key thing I didn’t have in my life was support, and through boxing that changed [and so did] my life.
“I want to make sure all young females have the support that they need under the one umbrella.”
Ms McLaren is trained by four-time world champion boxer Jeff Fenech, who said Ms McLaren was “really special” from the first day he trained her.
“Im very proud of kate and how she’s giving back… it’s really important and I totally support her,” he said.
“Her work ethic is second to none… From boxing to this charity, she gives it all 110 per cent.”
