Man Shares Addiction Recovery Story, Prepares for Charity Boxing Debut

Harry Gurd, 24, aims to assist others grappling with addiction by recounting his personal history of substance abuse. His difficulties with alcohol and drugs commenced approximately seven years ago. He indicated that he “waved the white flag” last year and, with assistance from an island charity, has since been on a path to recovery. As part of his recovery, he has been undertaking boxing training and is scheduled for his inaugural fight this Saturday, which will raise funds for the Silkworth charity. “I was always the drunkest at the party”, Mr Gurd stated regarding his challenges. He added, “My real substance misuse started when I moved over to the UK for a couple of years because things are a lot more accessible there.” He relocated to Brighton with friends in 2021, having accumulated savings during coronavirus lockdowns. “I ended up wasting it all within a few months on trips to various cities in the UK, alcohol, other substances, and my obsession with gambling and casinos”, he explained. He described this as, “This was my first wake-up call to the negative effects my lifestyle was having on different areas of my life.” After approximately a year and a half, he opted to return to Jersey due to the repercussions on his “mental, physical, and financial health,” but his struggles persisted. “I tried to sort it out for a few months on my own but I waved the white flag”, he said. He contacted Silkworth, a charity that provides residential rehabilitation for men and women affected by drug and alcohol addiction, at its lodge in St Helier. Mr Gurd mentioned that he had known about the charity since childhood because a close family friend had utilized their services to successfully recover from alcohol abuse. As part of his recovery, he has been training at the Transform Together boxing gym, a sport he had never engaged in before. On Saturday, he will participate in his first fight at a white-collar boxing event, with the goal of raising funds for the charity. “I feel they’ve given hope to me, but also to my close ones as well and just everyone in the recovery community”, he expressed. He noted that health and fitness have been fundamental to his recovery. “People that knew me are astounded by the person I’ve become today and to look back to where I was a year ago is quite profound,” Mr Gurd added. He also stated, “My family feels like they have their family member back.” Jason Wyse, CEO of Silkworth, who has supported Mr Gurd in his recovery, commended him for his commitment and for sharing his story. Mr Wyse remarked that it had been remarkable because “it underpins what we do.” He further commented: “There is more to it than just stopping the use of the substance, it is about moving on with your life and Harry is doing that.” Cameron Elliott, the founder of the boxing gym, has himself “suffered with addiction and mental health problems.” “Harry is walking example of how you can overcome substance abuse problems and he’s helped break down barriers for others nervous about getting into the gym,” Mr Elliott said. The boxing event is scheduled to be held at the Merton Hotel on Saturday night. Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.