Hi everyone, I am raising money for my karate schools annual fund raiser, Spirit Challenge. Spirit Challenge, is a event we have every year at Thousand Waves where we have physical events all week long; some of these events include strength training, board breaking and meditation. Another part of the challenge is raising money, this year my goal is to raise 1000 dollars! I am trying to go for the Sogo Award, Sogo means all around champion, what you have to do is raise 1000 dollars and compete in 7 events in one week, which I will be doing.

      I have been at Thousand Waves for more than eight years. Over that time I have become a Second degree Junior Black Belt. I am not only a student there but; also, a teacher. I teach 4 to 8 year olds karate; It’s a really amazing experience teaching them, and I love doing it. Thousand Waves means the world to mean, and if I had not found it I would not be the same person I am today.

     A  little about Thousand Waves: Thousand Waves Martial Arts and Self-Defense Center, is a non profit organization teaching people Seido Karate and Self- Defense. They offer a wide variety of Self Defense workshops to people of all ages, and even go to schools and other places all around the Chicago to teach them. There goal, is to create peace makers and end violence.

      The money that you donate to Thousand Waves will go to the ASK Program and the Scholar Ship program. The ASK program “ Adapted Seido Karate” is a program that teaches disabled kids and teens karate.  We need to keep this program running so everyone can do karate. Let me tell you these kids are truly inspiring every time I see them I am even more inspired to keep training in karate and get better. The Scholar Ship program provides families and individuals  financial support, so they can do karate too. This is a really important program because it provides self defense skills and karate skills to anyone who wants to learn them. Many students are part of the Scholar Ship program and if we didn’t have this fundraiser they would’t be able to train. I really hope you consider making donation of 100, 50, 20 dollars or anything you can. Every dollar counts towards my goal and Thousand Waves goal. Thank You so much for taking time to read this, and donate; it means the world to all of us at Thousand Waves.

Sincerely, Ruben Whitaker