Published: July 22, 2007 05:45 pm         

Martial arts students break boards for charity

EDMOND — Martial arts experts use their hands and arms to break through boards, but they don’t do it just because they enjoy destroying things.

In the case of Saturday’s Boardbreakathon at ATA Karate Life Skills Training Center, participants were breaking boards to build things up.

The Boardbreakathon was a fundraiser for The Halo Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Kansas City, Mo., which helps American children and orphans across the world.

Cody and Erica Pepper, training center owners, participated in an earlier HALO fundraiser in Kansas that raised more than $40,000. They decided to sponsor a similar event at their studio near 150th Street and Western.

AKA Karate Life Skills Training Center focuses on teaching attributes like attitude, discipline, respect, confidence, persistence and creativity to students age 4 and older.

“We also really feel like it’s our philanthropic duty to join with the community and make a difference in children’s lives,” Cody Pepper said.

Saturday’s event was HALO’s first satellite event outside Kansas, said Amy Morantz, HALO ambassador.

“It’s very endearing and exciting for us to have them take part in our efforts,” Morantz said.

At the Boardbreakathon, students of all ages raised money from supporters to break boards of seven sizes. One of the leading fundraisers was Charles Tasse of Oklahoma City, who said he raised $1,500.

Boards of varying sizes are coded by color, from white to black. Supporters paid Tasse $2 for a board 5 inches wide and up to $50 for a black board, equivalent to 2.25 12-by-12-inch boards.

“That’s a ‘good God, you’re crazy’ board,” Tasse said.

And what’s the point, other than raising money for a worthy cause?

“People ask us why we break boards,” Pepper said. “It’s a silly thing to do, but it develops confidence and it serves as a metaphor for any barrier in life.”

Tasse said he was glad to use his skills to help raise money for HALO orphanages across the world.

“Being a ‘foreigner’ myself — Canadian — I see the value of the orphanages. I understand people who are in strange and difficult places alone, and it meant something very strong.”

The Peppers’ goal was to raise $10,000 for HALO, enough to provide food, water, lodging and schooling for an orphanage for six months. The final fundraising total had not been released Saturday.



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