British Thai Boxing Champ Making a Difference

Nearly dying of alcohol and drug abuse when he was 21, Thai boxing champion Pete Dwan today helps kids lead drug-free lives. His profile is one of 200 “Meet a Scientologist” videos available on the Scientology website at www.scientology.org.

Twenty-five years ago Pete Dwan nearly died of alcohol and drug abuse. Now he is dedicated to helping kids decide to live drug-free.

In his video on www.scientology.org, filmed in his boxing studio, the tattooed Manchester native tells how Scientology changed his life.

“Since I started doing Scientology I’ve got lots of interests I didn’t have before,” he says. “I’ve actually started up my own club, I’ve started up my own business, bought my own house—life got better.”

Part of this change is a program he runs called “The Kombat Kids.” Dwan, who won the British Thai Boxing title 13 years ago and has represented England in international competitions, teaches kick boxing to kids of the ages of seven to twelve in inner city youth centers and housing associations to help them gain self-confidence and a sense of discipline.

To provide them with a guideline for making positive choices in their lives, Dwan uses The Way to Happiness by L. Ron Hubbard, a modern, non-religious, commonsense moral code. He has also delivered drug awareness workshops to more than 30,000 young people in schools and colleges.

“I know what it means to have a problem with drugs,” says Dwan. “I was only 21 when my liver stopped working and I almost died. I tell them my story. They can see I know what I’m talking about.”

Dwan says that since he became a Scientologist eight years ago, the training and spiritual counseling has made an enormous difference in his life.

Dwan, 46, credits Scientology for the energetic enthusiasm he feels about the future.

“It’s fun, man,” he says. “You know, 99 percent of the time I’m smiling. And it’s only because of Scientology.”

The popular “Meet a Scientologist” profiles on the Church of Scientology International Video Channel at Scientology.org now total 200 broadcast-quality documentary videos featuring Scientologists from diverse locations and walks of life. The personal stories are told by Scientologists who are educators, teenagers, skydivers, a golf instructor, a hip-hop dancer, IT manager, stunt pilot, mothers, fathers, dentists, photographers, actors, musicians, fashion designers, engineers, students, business owners and more.

A digital pioneer and leader in the online religious community, in April 2008 the Church of Scientology became the first major religion to launch its own official YouTube Video Channel, which has now been viewed by millions of visitors.