Every year during the month of May, Shorinji Kempo members worldwide engage in various forms of community support activities.
Here at Shorinji Kempo Toronto Branch, we have chosen to raise funds for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, particularly to help fund their efforts to understand and treat the causes of drug addiction.
The method we employ is our annual Kickathon - an event where we perform 500 continuous full force kicks with kiai (yell!) in return for sponsorship.
Reviewing the Kickathon training plan |
This is our 24th successive annual charity Kickathon for CAMH and, from a practical point of view, that also means we are also 24 years older than when we started!
Our kicks are lower and a bit slower than in 1996, but thanks to our incredible sponsors we were able to raise $14,380 in our event this year. Our Kickathon initiative has now raised a total of $179,160 for CAMH since it began.
The start |
Halfway done (shaken but not stirred) |
Nearly done (kicks getting lower) |
We wish to thank our wonderful sponsors for their incredible generosity and loyal support of our event.
We also wish to salute the efforts of Lidia and her team at CAMH Foundation for helping make this event successful once again.
Immediately after the kicking |
Finally, we commend CAMH for all its work in helping to understand and address the serious threat of drug addiction.
Gassho
Shorinji Kempo Toronto Branch