Breaking bricks to end domestic violence

Senior black belt karate instructors from the Karate at SAIT Club break bricks at last year’s Break the Cycle fundraiser. This year’s event takes place at North Hill Centre Mall on Aug. 29, 2009.

With a karate chop to bricks and boards, the Karate at SAIT Club joins in the fight to end domestic abuse at their 2nd Annual fundraiser entitled “Break the Cycle”, with funds going directly to Calgary Counselling Centre.

On August 29, shoppers at North Hill Centre Mall will be able to watch students and instructors set personal goals to break a number of boards and bricks between 2 and 4 p.m.

Richard Fossey, president of the Ohtsuka Amateur Karate Foundation (AKF) and the head instructor of the Karate at SAIT Club, decided to partner with Calgary Counselling Centre because of our good fit with AKF’s values. Along with the traditional karate values, students are taught self defense, confidence and not to use violence.

Calgary Counselling Centre aims to end domestic abuse at its root source and is recognized as a leader in domestic abuse programming and research. Approximately one third of the Centre’s work responds to domestic abuse. Since 1981 the Centre has offered programs to meet the changing needs of our community as well as changing perceptions of
treatment for families of domestic violence.

Last year 21 students and instructors at the Karate at SAIT Club raised $11,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. Fossey hopes to beat last year’s amount, aiming to raise $15,000.

To help reach their goal, corporations are encouraged to sponsor the event by purchasing a brick. The brick would then be painted with the company logo and broken by one of the instructors. Pledges can be made to match the personal goals set by the students. To sponsor or make a donation contact Richard Fossey at 403-203-8710 or Calgary Counselling Centre at 403-691-5904.

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