Charity in for #SOMEFight

http://www.stalbertleader.com/2012/10/04/charity-in-for-somefight/

October 4, 2012 

 

An upcoming event is looking to really put the “fight” in Hunter’s Fight for a Cure. The local charity — started by the family of a young St. Albert boy battling a rare blood disorder — will be the beneficiary when Edmonton Social Media-X (YEGSOME-X) puts on their next event, dubbed #SOMEFight, on Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Hayabusa TrainingCentre in St. Albert.

 

 

There, participants will have the chance to take a few lessons from Hayabusa owner and mixed martial arts fighter Luke Harris, then get a chance to take those skills into the cage for a sparring session.

All the proceeds from registration fees will go to the Hunter’s Fight for a Cure Foundation of Alberta, named after St. Albert’s Hunter Kuzik, who was born with a rare blood disorder called Diamond Blackfan Anemia, which has required that he have more than 140 blood transfusions over his eight years and chelation therapy to remove excess iron from his system every night.

“We’re super excited,” said Carrie Kuzik, foundation president and Hunter’s mom. “We kind of took the year off from having a big event this year, so it’s kind of nice to get some extra support and pick up our slack from this year. The fact they chose us is pretty awesome.”

YEGSOME-X organizer Craig Pilgrim said that he’ll be among the participants who’ll be sitting on the sidelines.
“Not a chance,” Pilgrim said with a laugh when asked if he would get in the octagon himself. “If you’ve had a chance to read the descriptor on the website, I have ‘participant’ and I have ‘spectator,’ and I’ll be in the latter category.”
The group will be divided into participants who have MMA experience, participants with no MMA experience, and spectators like Pilgrim.
Participants will get a 15-minute overview from Harris, 45 minutes of instruction on basic conditioning, striking and defensive skills and 30 minutes of optional sparring inside the octagonal cage at Hayabusa. The last half-hour will be a demonstration by Hayabusa pros and coaches.
“The idea came up originally about doing something at the casino playing poker, and somehow, someway — I have no idea how — the conversation moved to mixed martial arts,” Pilgrim said.
Harris said that, when he was first approached, he was excited to get involved.
“Mixed martial arts, we’re more entertainment than anything, but it’s pretty cool to have the oppportunity to give back to the community,” he said.
Pilgrim isn’t sure what to expect for a turnout, but the more people who come out, the more money they’ll raise for charity.
“Every time we set one of these up, I hope to achieve a sellout, because the biggest beneficiary, of course, is the charity,” he said, noting there are about 30 slots available for event. “That’s always the goal.”
You can keep up-to-date on event details by following @yegSOMEX and using the hashtag #SOMEFight on Twitter, or logging ontoyegsomex.wordpress.com.
— GLENN COOK, St. Albert Leader