Kids Kicking Cancer

Families Give Cancer the Boot with Karate

by

Kids Kicking Cancer is about fighting fear, fighting disease, and fighting negativity.

Karate is a physical outlet for the pain of dealing with a life threatening condition, but Kids Kicking Cancer (KKC) is much more than physical. Their unique program involves mental relaxation techniques to teach children to work through their pain and the emotional strain of their situation.

KKC was founded by Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg in 1998 after he lost his first child to cancer in 1983. With his experience as a parent, a spiritual leader, and a martial artist, he designed this program to benefit all aspects of life with cancer, for the parents as well as the children.

All the instructors are highly proficient in martial arts, and have also been trained to provide support to the parents and siblings of children with cancer. KKC believes that the children deserve to feel in control, and karate is a way for them to do something positive in their lives. "My ideal purpose for teaching is to inspire self-esteem in every child," says Dawn Barnes, the leader of the west coast office.

The staff is involved in grief counseling, advocacy, research and weekly classes. Instructors also visit the hospitals or homes of their students to give private instruction or to provide knowledgeable support. They are available to train hospital staff in the program's relaxation techniques.

Since an entire family is involved in dealing with the diagnosis of a life-threatening disease, siblings are encouraged to attend karate classes as well. Children who might otherwise feel left out or ignored are given the chance to participate in their sibling's recovery. Even if their sibling becomes unresponsive to medical treatment and passes away, they continue to take the karate classes in order to work through the emotional challenges of dealing with a sibling's passing.

Martial arts are based on the principle that inner strength is learned alongside physical strength and KKC applies this belief to the fighting of disease. The program emphasizes the soul, so that each child knows that the tumor is not the definition of who he is. KKC empowers children to heal physically and emotionally, focusing on all the things they can do to take control of their emotions and their pain.

The program is relatively new in California. Dawn Barnes, owner of Dawn's Karate Kids, met Rabbi Goldberg and was inspired by his message, offering to make her studio the headquarters for his west coast expansion. They are seeking volunteers to assist in class, as well as ride with the children in the vans to and from class. Donations are also greatly appreciated and the website www.kidskickingcancer.net has a place to make donations in any amount.

65 Cadillac Sq. Suite 3000 Detroit , MI 48226 Phone: 313-557-0021 Fax: 313-557-0022 Email: office@kidskickingcancer.net www.kidskickingcancer.net