A former bare-knuckle boxer has left a world of pain behind to become a happiness coach.
James Lambert, of Horsham, used to go to secret roadside locations to fight bloody bouts before shadowy underworld figures.
As a bouncer at some of the country’s toughest nightclubs he saw horrific attacks and would intervene in gang brawls.
But after a decade of violence Mr Lambert, 34, has turned to spreading happiness and running marathons for good causes.
He said: “Certainly with bare-knuckle boxing there were lots of people of questionable integrity.
“It was a massively scary environment to be in. Whether I was working the door or fighting in the fields, fear was a daily occurrence.
“I was very naive and had no idea of the huge amounts of money being bet in my name.
“You might not know where to go until an hour before the fight and you wouldn’t see your opponent until moments before.”
Despite his unbeaten fighting record James began to realise the damage he was doing to himself.
He said: “There were so many near misses you feel you can only be lucky so many times.
“People would always get glassed in clubs. I saw one lad get his head put through a shop windowon Christmas Eve. His face was literally hanging off. It was a terrifying sight.”
After years of introspection, reading and meditation James turned his life around.
He is now an author, ultra-runner, personal trainer and happiness coach working across Sussex.
The fitness fanatic is 76 runs into a bid to complete 101 marathons to raise enough money to send a terminally ill family friend to Disney World in Florida.
Two-year-old Noah Elkington has Duschenne muscular dystrophy, an aggressive condition which he is unlikely to survive into his 20s.
He added: “When I was growing up I was afraid to be happy because I saw it as a sign of weakness.
“But when you go out into the world angry it’s not surprising what you find is anger.
“There was no sudden epiphany. You have to ask yourself what you want. I wanted to read, be happy and speak.”
For more information go to jameslambertcoaching.co.uk.
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