2008 Kick-a-thon & Summer Games
On June 7, 2008, over one hundred Karate Institute of America students and family members joined together at the North Chagrin Metro Park to participate in the eighteenth annual kick-a-thon to benefit the Make A Wish Foundation of Northeast, Central, and Southern Ohio.
The event has been raising money for the Make A Wish Foundation since 1991. The students get sponsors individual and business to sponsor them per kick the students kick as many times as they can in one minute.
Forty kickers ages five years old and up were present at this year’s event ready to kick for their cause. The students came from Cleveland Karate Institute located on the west side, Twinsburg, Bedford, and Munson. The kicking was fierce in the first two heats. The heats were comprised of young beginners anxious to kick. When the dust cleared young Tino Perfetto emerged the winner with a whopping 173 kicks in a minute. The next two heats were the advanced juniors the kicking was fast and furious with Mitchell Geddis taking top honors with 242 kicks.
The adults had their turn as well James Vernon was the adult top kicker with 230 kicks. Paul Seidl was the top adult contributor Paul each year has collected sponsors from work he has raised over $1000.00 each year this year was no different Paul raised close to $1500.00 for the event. He accomplish this through the generosity of the employees at work over 300 sponsors helped out with donations of one dollar and up
The Kick a Thon raised $ 3500.00 in 1991 and over $32,000.00 last year. The event continues to grow as the result of the effort by the students’ .The Karate Institute of America has raised over $214,000.00 since the event began and has sponsored over twenty- eight wishes for Make A Wish.
The event is all about the students using their martial arts skills to help benefit and help others. The Karate Institute hopes to exceed the $250,000.00 mark in total donations.
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