Meet Lee Hoy of Whiteleas, South Shields, a man who has been registered blind since birth with a remarkable determination.
Lee took up the fast-paced sport that is Mixed Martial Arts two years ago, and it turns out he is actually pretty good at it – so much so, that he has been consistently beating fully-sighted opponents.
He first turned up at Fighting Fit, in South Shields, with an aim of gaining some self-defence skills, but nowadays regularly competes in bouts against sighted opponents and has even won bronze medals in two grappling competitions.
Speaking to the Shields Gazette, Lee said:
I’m a totally changed person because of the sport, and feel a lot more confident in myself and happy. I can walk the streets with my head high, and feel that I can look after myself if I need to.
Lee’s next challenge comes in August, which comes in the form of a local boxing demonstration alongside fully-sighted colleagues.
But we’re sure he will smash it!
