Kick-a-Thon to benefit St Jude Children's Research Hospital

March 15, 2005

BOB MARTINSON/Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA - Students of a local martial arts organization are hoping their kicks and rolls will help a world-renowned children's research hospital in its quest to conquer diseases that threaten the lives of children.

Shoshin Ryu of Mat-Su/Anchorage and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will sponsor a Kick-a-Thon at Denali Gymnastics in Wasilla, at 5 p.m. March 19. The gym is located across from Iditarod Elementary School on Wasilla-Fishhook Road. Money raised in the event will help children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases get a better chance to live.

Each year, students in Tim Caraway's Shoshin Ryu classes in Mat-Su try to perform some kind of community service. This year, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was chosen as the beneficiary.

People may either participate or pledge donations to the participants - per kick or per roll that students perform, or in any given amount the donor chooses.

Shoshin Ryu means "Truthful Heart School" and teaches something similar to Japanese Jujitsu, with an emphasis on self-defense. Classes are open to young and old.

Caraway takes care to teach his students not only the art, but also a spirit of cooperation and thoughtful consideration of others.

"These art forms have always been used as a means of self-defense and they always historically adapted to change, such as now, when people are approached with knives or guns," he said. "So we try to teach people how to defend themselves against these dangers and we are following the traditional adaptation of the art. The art would be disrespected if there were a bunch of bullies running around using the techniques."

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

Founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, and based in Memphis, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay.

St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fund-raising organization. To participate in this program, or to learn about self-defense class offerings, people may contact Caraway at 892-7068, or Westen Curry, in Anchorage, at (907)

344-1024.