ABOUT US
Kids Kicking Cancer was founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1999 by a black belt father who lost his first child to Leukemia at the age of two.
Services are provided to children and teens with any pediatric illness. All Kids Kicking Cancer programs are free of charge and include:
- Martial arts classes & uniforms
- Individual support & coaching during clinical procedures & hospital stays
- Relaxation, meditation & empowerment training for children & their siblings
- Transportation to & from classes and events
- Home visits as needed
- Special family outings
- Annual Belting Ceremony
- Parent & sibling support programs
YOUR IMPACT
Your sponsorship dollars will impact more than 750 children, representing almost 8,000 instances of service, in the metro Detroit area this year. The money raised through this annual golf outing will not only financially support our current program, but will allow us to provide for the growing list of additional children in need of our techniques to “breathe in the light & blow out the darkness” to control the pain, stress & anxiety of their serious pediatric diseases.
Meet Ian
A Mother’s Perspective:
When my son was diagnosed with cancer almost two years ago, our lives changed dramatically. For me, a very difficult part of our new reality was dealing with treatments, side effects and all the pain and discomfort that my son had to physically and emotionally overcome. We are so thankful for Kids Kicking Cancer.
My son loves coming to the classes. It gives him an opportunity to interact with other kids his age and to run and have fun. We are so thankful to the teachers for their patience, heart, and amazing abilities to empower kids in such hard circumstances. We appreciate that the Kids Kicking Cancer teachers and volunteers not only teach the class, but also visit kids at the oncology clinic and hospitals. It brightened up our long days and always made Ian excited.
Meet Gabby + Abby
A Mother’s Perspective:
I truly want to use this opportunity to thank you and the entire Kids Kicking Cancer team for the wonderful work you do impacting the lives of these kids. They fight their lifelong health battles each day knowing fully well that you got their back.
The meditations and breathing techniques are really helpful especially when Gabby is in a lot of pain. Gabby adds: “I am so thankful for the staff that help me manage my pain by teaching me power breathing and body scans.” Her sister Abby says “Thank you for helping my sister in the hospital by showing her how to power breathe.”
2018 Event Recap
Kids Kicking Cancer is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides weekly classes for children, both inpatient and outpatient, in the mind-body techniques found in the martial arts. Our mission is “to ease the pain of very sick children while empowering them to heal physically, spiritually and emotionally.”
Through an innovative program that merges modern integrative medicine with traditional martial arts, Kids Kicking Cancer addresses the overwhelming needs of children with illness. Specially trained black belt martial artists teach breathing, visualization, and relaxation techniques, in addition to traditional martial arts moves to help empower the children and provide them with a sense of power, peace and purpose. martial arts classes, support during hospital & clinic procedures, uniforms, and transportation to and from classes are provided to families at no cost.