Copelink Blog

On Tuesday, March 29th, CancerCare for Kids had the pleasure of partnering with Kids Kicking Cancer to offer a free martial arts class to children affected by cancer. The event gave children the opportunity to connect with peers while increasing confidence and coping skills in a fun and relaxing atmosphere. The class was taught by sensei Peter Gismondi and also allowed families to join in on the fun!

Children affected by cancer face a unique set of challenges. They often experience feelings of isolation, anger, fear and doubt; all emotions that can be addressed in a healthy environment provided by a martial arts class. Often, children have a difficult time identifying what they are going through and may need an alternative way to express themselves. The skills taught by the class gives them the opportunity to feel empowered and in control of their bodies.

Families that attended the event gave us great feedback! Many families requested that we explore the idea of having ongoing classes for their children to attend. One parent stated, “It was great to see my son get involved throughout the class- I could tell he enjoyed spending time with other kids his age who understand what he is going through.”

We look forward to partnering with Kids Kicking Cancer again in the future! Sign up for our quarterly newsletter to learn about more seasonal events hosted by CancerCare for Kids.

A big thank you to Eric Schwortz who donated his time to photograph this event! You can view all his photos from the event, here. Eric is a musician and photographer who was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer in 2014, and was a member of CancerCare's Young Adult with Cancer support group throughout his treatment. He blogs about his experience here.