Frampton moved by ‘unforgettable’ trip to Kenyan slums
Belfast boxer Carl Frampton has said some of the sights he and his wife Christine saw during a charity trip to Kenya will never leave them.
UTV’s Marc Mallett and cameraman Tommy Hassan had made the journey to the same area six months earlier to see first-hand the difference aid from Trócaire was making.
In November, the Framptons travelled to the drought-hit region to help raise awareness and funds.
The Jackal showed young children how to box, while experiencing what life was like for them in rat-infested, sewage-filled slums.
“It was like nothing I could have imagined,” Carl said.
“When you think you have problems, you don’t really when you see what these guys have to suffer.”
Visiting a medical centre where patients they saw included a mother with HIV, and her eight-month-old baby who weighed just nine pounds, proved an emotional experience for the Framptons – who have two young children themselves.
“It looked bleak from what I saw. But, speaking to the doctor, he says things have massively improved since you guys were there in the summer,” Carl said.
“They’re saying things are improving … and with the help of Trócaire and other charities, these people are going to get better.”
For Carl, his focus is now on getting back in action in the ring in April and, of course, hopes are high that he will get to fulfil his dream of fighting at Windsor Park.
“I need to win the fight in April first, which is the only one in my mind right now,” he said.
“Get through that and we’ll do Windsor in the summer.”