The New York Martial Arts Academy raised more than 15 thousand dollars for cancer research through its Kick-A-Thon Against Cancer held on Saturday, May 18 at the Academy’s location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
A total of 27 children and 14 adults participated in the fundraiser, throwing more than 4,000 kicks over the course of an afternoon.
The Kick-A-Thon’s participants had signed up more than 200 sponsors ahead of time who pledged an amount to donate for each kick thrown.
Students threw their kicks in the style of Jeet Kune Do, the martial art and philosophy founded by Bruce Lee which the academy teaches 7 days a week at four locations in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.
All proceeds were donated to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
The fundraiser was initiated and organized by Antri Papanikolaou, a student and employee at the academy.
“We train every day for our fitness and to practice our art of JKD,” Antri said. “Today we got a chance to raise money for a cause we believe in, doing what we love.”
Antri and the academy’s head instructor, Dino Orfanos, went the extra mile for the Kick-A-Thon to ensure a family friendly atmosphere. In the foyer of the academy they set up a dunk tank, pop corn and cotton candy machines, as well as several carnival games that were a big hit with the little ones, and some of the big ones too.
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