THE sport of boxing acting as a saviour is not a unique story - it's never tiresome, it's just a common narrative.
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It's certainly been the case for champion Bomaderry product Mark Lucas who, without the lessons learned in the gym, could well have gone down a dark path in his youth.
Indeed many people he knew then are still walking it now after an upbringing where drugs and alcohol were not merely temptations but the norm.
Boxing took him in the other direction, towards Commonwealth Games representation and now a 9-2 pro record. Beyond that, he's a young father and business owner.
He admits not many people could've drawn a straight line from where he was then to where he is now, which is why he wants to make that path simpler for the next generation of young men.
"Thinking back to some of the stuff I went through as a teenager I know the lack of direction and self-belief you can have," Lucas said.
"I remember what it was like to be a teenage boy, what I thought I could do, what people would tell me I couldn't do. For me boxing was something to focus my time and energy on.
"It's hard when everyone else around you is going out partying or doing drugs and whatever else, but that goal and that vision of what I could become steered me away from it.
"Outside of sport I was still lost but over time, as I developed that self-respect and that discipline, I learned you don't have to just accept any situation or environment you feel like you're stuck in."
Related content: Lucas' journey in the ring
Out of those personal reflections, Lucas has developed the Champs Camp, a program for teenage boys in which he shares the lessons learned on his journey.
The fully-funded program for selected applicants, sponsored by local businesses, covers various aspects of physical and mental health and, Lucas stresses, is not aimed at boxers.
"It's not for boxers, it's for any teenage boy that can see themselves doing something great or doing something a bit different and just needs some direction and wants a bit of guidance on that path," Lucas said.
"Boxing was just where my strength was found. Everything I've learned through the pursuit of my dreams in boxing transitions into my life, the sport just really channelled it.
"Thinking about the process behind it, how I was able to accomplish the things I have and the mentality attached to it, there's definitely an avenue there to help teenagers realise that they're fully capable of becoming whoever they want to be in life.
"We're really just trying to build a community of young men who know it's OK to talk about these things and that strive to be excellent in what they're doing."
The camps will also include other athlete presenters, the first being Dragons star Tariq Sims, with Lucas looking to broaden the program.
"One benefit of having the career I've had is the connections we've been able to build through the sporting and boxing community, I've had plenty of people who'll come on board and help us out," Lucas said.
Applications for the first community camp at Chowder Bay, Mosman close on August 7 and are available from the champs camp self development website.