'Kick for the Cure' to battle breast cancer

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The Schutz Martial Arts Association will host a charity fundraising event in Alexandria on Friday, June 11 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the fight against breast cancer.

It is working with a local “Walk for the Cure” team from the Fergus Falls area. All proceeds from this event will be going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

The “Kick for the Cure” event will take place at Pete’s County Market from 4 to 7 p.m. Martial arts students will be there to see how many kicks they can do during that time.

The students are asking people to sponsor them on a per kick basis. The more they can kick, the more they can raise.

They are also selling boards and bricks. Whatever is sold has to be broken by the students and black belts during the event.

There will also be a couple of baseball bats that will be auctioned off during the event that will be broken with the shin of Master Kevin Schutz.

Another way for residents to help is to attend the event and participate in mini self-defense classes that will be going on periodically throughout the event.

There will also be Kick for the Cure T-shirts available to buy or to order.

Out of all the worthy charitable organizations out there these days, Schutz said he selected Susan G. Komen Foundation for a few special reasons.

First, you would be rather hard pressed to find someone who has not been affected by breast cancer in some way, Schutz said.

Schutz, the director of the event, had a cousin who lost her battle with this several years ago and Jacky Schutz, co-director of the event, has a cousin battling it right now.

That cousin is the team captain of the Walk for the Cure team that the event is working with to raise money.

Sara Piekarski, team captain of Team Knocker Walkers, has been an inspiration to many people by being a single mother, working full time, organizing and attending fundraisers, training for a 60-mile walk and doing this while battling breast cancer, Schutz said.

Piekarski and her team will be at the Kick for the Cure event so that everyone can meet them.

Another reason the foundation was picked was because it is a local team and everyone can meet them to put a face to the charity, Schutz said.

“Far too often, we wonder where all the money goes or what good is it doing,” he said. “With these people and their team involved, we can see what it is for and talk with them to show your support.”

The event also provides a good lesson for students: To work hard toward a goal that is directly benefiting someone else besides themselves.

“They learn how to give selflessly without seeking a great reward for themselves,” Schutz said. “It is the act that is the reward.

For more information on how to donate, get involved or about the team, go to www.schutzmartialarts.com or www.ffknockerwalkers.com.

Tags: kick for the cure, susan g komen, breast cancer, schutz martial arts, martial arts, news, cancer, fundraiser