Kayden Fraser, once one of Scotland's most obese children, has lost 15 stone and raised £1,000 for the wrestling charity that helped transform his life. The 17-year-old, who weighed 29 stone when he joined the Glasgow School of Wrestling in October 2022 at age 13, has now halved his body weight and hopes to inspire others.
Charity walk challenge
Kayden walked a round-trip from Ibrox Stadium to Celtic Park on Saturday, accompanied by coach David “Ravie Davie” McCallum and Blair McCartney. The challenge brought the newly formed charity closer to its goal of raising £10,000 to send 100 children, parents, and coaches to Belfast for a special event with Titanic Wrestling in September.
Kayden said: “I can’t believe we have raised so much money so quickly. I went in with no expectations and was blown away. It was a hard task but every time I wanted to give up, Davie was there pushing me all the way. He has done that throughout my whole time at the wrestling school.”
Life-changing impact
Kayden, who has a genetic bone condition called osteochondroma, never imagined wrestling would be the key to changing his life. He said: “Before I lost the weight, I didn’t quite realise how big I was. I have a genetic bone condition called osteochondroma, where I have extra bones in my legs and shoulders. It makes moving harder, so I put on weight easy. I would never have thought of stepping foot in a wrestling ring before I did, never mind it being the reason I lost 15 stone.”
He added: “Davie and the coaches have saved my life. They changed it for the better and shaped me into the person I am today. They deserve so much credit. I may not have been here if it wasn’t for them.”
Coaching and inspiration
Kayden has now begun coaching at the school, helping with beginners, ASN classes, and a summer camp that attracted 30 children every day. He said: “If you told me when I was at my heaviest that I would be teaching kids, I would not have believed you. I could barely look after myself. I hope that my story can inspire them and I can change someone’s life like how the school did for me.”
David, who has spoken about his own troubled past and mission to steer youngsters away from gangs and violence, said Kayden had become a hero to the children at the school. He said: “Carrying around that much weight can shave years off your life, so I would say that wrestling has saved his life. Kayden would admit that himself. I’m so proud of Kayden completing the challenge on Saturday and how far he has come with his weight loss and as a person. All the kids love him - he is a hero to them.”
Overcoming bullying
Kayden’s journey has also ended the isolation he once endured. He said: “I was bullied in school and made to feel like someone I was not. The wrestling school changed that for me. I want to encourage kids to embrace who they are and to allow them to come out of their shell. I’m super proud of how far I have come. I never noticed how much I was losing through wrestling because I was just having fun. I feel so much better mentally, physically and in the ring. Life is so good just now.”
