Despite challenges of sickle cell anemia, man spars with youth in free program
By Ross Maghielse
MLive.com
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — When Rick Daniels isn’t in the hospital, he’s doing what he can to mentor a group of Flint kids with his Save The Youth Boxing Program.
Staying healthy, though, is a constant battle for Daniels. Staying alive has been a miracle.
Daniels has sickle cell anemia, a blood disease that has caused him to have two heart attacks and a stroke — the stroke has left him legally blind. Three years ago while living in Detroit, Daniels “coded” — died — twice, he said. He moved to Flint with his wife Luanda — a Flint native — and daughter Nia after “losing everything” in the wake of his most trying health issues.
Daniels made five trips to the hospital in the month of September and estimates he’s been admitted to the hospital about 60 times the past four years.
“I’m glad (September) is over with,” Daniels said prior to one of his youth boxing sessions, which he runs free of charge out of the community center at Cedar Shores Apartments off of Clio Road. “Since moving to Flint (two and a half years ago) I’ve been to McLaren about 25 times.”
Yet, Daniels — a military veteran and former car salesman at General Motors — is still able-bodied and spars with kids while also teaching boxing combinations and other self-defense methods. He regained the ability to walk only a little more than a year ago and has virtually lost his vision.
“I can still see movements and shadows,” Daniels said during a sparring session with 11-year-old Kiandre Jones. “Just being able to work out with these kids is a blessing.”
It’s made a difference in the kids’ lives, too.
Jones is one of the constant attendees each Monday and Friday in a group that otherwise varies in numbers week to week. He’s been attending Daniels’ boxing program for the past year, after he was bullied in school.
“Last year, there was a couple people that bullied me,” Jones said, shyly. “They pushed me and called me names and said they were going to beat me up and stuff. I didn’t like it. I don’t want to get in fights or nothing, I just didn’t like getting bullied and this makes me feel better.”
Daniels has also taken on a role in helping mentor Jones in other areas of life, encouraging him academically. Jones is on the principal’s academic list at Linden Charter Academy.
“It’s fun here,” Jones said. “I like boxing. Going to school now is good, too.”
Overcoming adversity is one of the life lessons Daniels teaches to all kids in his program. After all, it is something he knows quite a bit about.
“I started boxing and training at Kronk Gym (in Detroit) and there’s no doubt in my mind I could have been a great fighter. I wanted to be a pro boxer but that wasn’t my calling,” Daniels said. “I’ve got a blood disease. There’s nothing I can do about it. It is what it is and eventually .”
He left it at that, changing the subject back to the kids he works with and the goals his program is trying to achieve.
“This is my passion, this is what I love to do,” Daniels said. “I love working with children, especially the children that most people forget about. The underprivileged, single-parent kids, the disadvantaged kids who come from economically unstable environments, those kids are special to me. I grew up in the foster care system in the east side of Detroit and I’ve seen how one person taking an interest in a child can make a difference.
“These kids live in the most violent city in America, but it only takes one person to show a child there’s a different way.”
Daniels is trying to do that through boxing. However, he emphasizes a distinct line between boxing and fighting.
“There is a difference between the two and I teach self-defense also,” Daniels said. “Things like boxing and martial arts are sports. I’ve had a couple kids who have come through thinking they just like to fight, so my message is let’s go ahead and do it in a format where you can be rewarded for it, rather than get in trouble for it. When these kids come here I just try to wear them out, just get them exhausted so they go home and chill out.”
For some, the program is merely a safe haven that keeps them active after school.
“I don’t really want to box, I just like (coming to the program) because it’s fun,” said 9-year-old Nariyah Knox, also of Flint.
Daniels’ daughter Nia, 13, is more of a dancer than a boxer, but she attends every session.
“It brings a bond between me and my dad,” Nia said. “It’s something he likes, so he’s always wanted to teach me and I like it because of that.”
Daniels’ wife Luanda says they also use the program to reach out to parents and help in any way they can.
“It’s the one-on-one attention they get,” Luanda said. “They get to talk with Rick about school, about how things are going at home. It’s a positive thing for these young kids all around.”
Still, running the program with the limited resources available and keeping kids involved is a constant challenge.
“It is difficult,” Daniels said. “There’s a lot of negativity in these kids’ lives and an environment that you have to fight. It is trying at times, but it’s rewarding. There’s nothing more difficult than being a father and husband, though, and I’ve been that for a long time. Going through what I go through, these kids inspire me. I get a thrill out of this.”
