PUNCHING and kicking harder than most 10-year-olds, schoolgirl Tess Griffin looks a fighting force.

But the young kickboxer has to battle more than just her opponents in the ring as she has to live with cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that currently has no cure.

Next month, Tess will take part in a ‘Fight Knight’ to raise money and awareness for the condition, which sees the lungs and digestive system become clogged with thick sticky mucus, making it difficult to breathe.

Parents Luke and Ellie Griffin, from Witney, encouraged their daughter to take up kickboxing to help her fitness and improve her quality of life.

Mr Griffin – who is a full-time dad for Tess, her sister Erin, nine and Zac, seven – said his eldest started kickboxing when she was about four just for fun.

He added: “It’s a very serious thing for Tess now. She started off just going for an hour to get some exercise, now she is training up to three times a week.”

Tess said: “I like the fact, especially with having CF, if I am really angry I can hit a bag and take my aggression out on it.”

Both Mr and Mrs Griffin were unaware they were carriers of the gene that causes cystic fibrosis until Tess was born.

Mr Griffin realised something was wrong after his daughter kept wheezing at a young age.

Seven-year-old Zac also has the condition and has been in the John Radcliffe for the past three weeks.

Mr Griffin said the condition means Tess and Zac have to take their medication and perform exercises before they can even leave the house for school.

He added: “We just try to keep everything as normal as possible.”

The Windrush Fight Knight will take place on Saturday, October 3, at the Windrush Leisure Centre, Witney.

Mr Griffin added: “The show is the largest and most successful in the area.”

People can support Tess through her Just Giving page at justgiving.com/Tess-Griffin/ or by coming and supporting her at Fight Knight.

Mentioning Tess when buying a tickets will see 25 per cent going to the CF Trust. Tickets are £20 if purchased before October 3 and are available by calling 07977 865089 or emailing info.windrush@gmail.com