SAVE THE DATE
July 25, 2022
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.
Kids Kicking Cancer’s Heroes Circle services are provided to children and teens with any pediatric illness. All Heroes Circle 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 1,000 children, representing almost 10,000 instances of service, in the metro Detroit area this past 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 Amanuel
My son was diagnosed with retinoblastoma soon after we arrived in the USA. It was a huge bombshell for us. I didn’t have friends or family here to share my fears with. My son was anxious about going through the treatment, and his older brother was also affected by the news. Then I heard about Kids Kicking Cancer. I am grateful and blessed to a part of this wonderful organization. The staff are like family, and now I can say that I have family to go through this journey with me. Attending the classes instantly supplied my children with friends and emotional support. Wednesday, martial arts class day, has become their favorite day of the week. KKC also provides one on one classes for the kids, and hospital visits on surgery days. Thank you for everything you do to help my family get through this difficult time! I am breathing in the light and blowing out my darkness every day. – Werksira, Mom of Amanuel
Meet Lena
Lena was 18 months old when she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and endured five rounds of intense chemotherapy. After months of treatment, she was able to leave the hospital but still needed a year of treatment and blood draws. A friend then referred us to Kids Kicking Cancer. Lena attended several classes before the pandemic and formed a bond with her Senseis. With the switch to online, we were grateful for the effort to engage Lena in more than just karate. Lena learned power breathing, took therapeutic family cooking classes, and attended drive-thru celebrations. I often witness Lena control her breathing when she’s upset or anxious. Kids Kicking Cancer has impacted our entire family! Lena’s little sister will start classes in the fall and has been sneaking on screen during Lena’s classes. We are so grateful for the community of support we gained through Kids Kicking Cancer! – Amanda, Mom of Lena
2021 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.