Rotherham boxer Ellie Hellewell reveals drugs battle

Rotherham professional boxer Ellie Hellewell has bravely gone public about her fight against hard drugs.

The 26-year-old athlete admits she had been "wasting" her life on drug binges, some lasting for weeks at a time, before she turned a corner in her life.

Ellie has since been a contender for a Commonwealth title, at two different weights, has a sense of purpose and feels driven to succeed under coach Jason Cunningham.

Ellie, formerly of Bramley and Brinsworth, decided to come clean about her past on social media.

Her announcement comes after she took on Matchroom star prospect Tiah Mai Ayton in London, earlier this month.

Hellewell lost the high-profile bout, but gained respect for taking on the challenge as an underdog.

The former Wickersley Comprehensive pupil, now living in Conisbrough, wrote: "One week on from one of the greatest experiences I’ve had in boxing.

"Win, lose or draw I’m privileged to have been a part of it all. I’m not one for excuses so I won’t give any.

"Tiah is a great fighter. I couldn’t get going. This is just something I have to deal with myself and work to overcome."

It was then that Ellie's post drifted into a more darker topic.

"The more I sit and think about it, there was once a time in my life I was using heavy drugs on the regular, mostly for weeks at a time, wasting my life away.

"I had nothing about me and nothing going for me yet I still used to tell people I was a boxer.

"I realised I wanted more for myself, and made the decision to come away from it all and work to become someone I would be happy to be."

Ellie recalled how she turned professional after only four amateur fights, and in less than four years was boxing on a televised Matchroom card "against their golden girl.

"I’m far off where I want to be but I’m a lot closer than I was back then and I’m more than proud of that, it’s something that no one can take away from me.

"Despite not earning life-changing money from boxing, it has changed my life in other ways, it’s given me a purpose and I will always be grateful no matter the outcome," she wrote.

Ellie says she is having a short rest before getting back to work, thanking friends, family and sponsors for standing by her.

Her honest declaration was met with warm approval from Rotherham fighter Kacie Doocey and others.

Cunningham said Ellie was learning through life and told her: "You will be a major champion and I’ll make sure you get there...we rest and go again."

Doncaster heavyweight Joshua Simms said he was proud of her. That was echoed by several others, who praised her for "baring her soul."