Kia Motors supports Kids Kicking Cancer SA

L to R: Dr. Richard Friedland, Dr. Craig Nossel, Moses Sebopa and David Sieff

Kia Motors South Africa earlier this month made a donation of R100,000 to Kids Kicking Cancer (KKC) South Africa. The donation, which will be used to increase the reach of the programme in South Africa, is one of a series of charitable donations made in Kia Motors’ pursuit of making a difference in the lives of others.

"Kids Kicking Cancer is delighted to have Kia on board as our first major corporate sponsor,” says Dr. Richard Friedland, chairman of Kids Kicking Cancer South Africa.

“The programme, which was launched in South Africa in October last year, is already in 10 public hospitals around the country, and having a significant impact on the emotional and physical wellbeing on children being treated for serious illnesses such as cancer."

Professor Elimelech Goldberg, a black belt rabbi and clinical assistant professor of paediatrics, created kids Kicking Cancer in 1999 after losing his first child to leukaemia at the age of two.

What is Kids Kicking Cancer SA?

It is a global organisation that empowers more than 5,000 children in 48 different hospitals, in five countries – including South Africa. The organisation’s mission is simple: to easy the pain of very sick children while empowering them to heal physically, spiritually and emotionally.

The programme uses martial arts to facilitate this process, and children learn breath work, meditation and traditional karate movements that empower them to teach others, and thus gain purpose within their lives. In fact, one of the most unique and powerful elements of the programme is that the children – while dealing with their own fight against cancer – become teachers, teaching other children with challenging illness how to “breathe in the light and blow out the darkness”. KKC’s mantra is Power Peace Purpose, and when asked what their purpose is, the kids yell out: “To teach the world!”

KKC also has a “Black Belt” programme for patients who are not responding to treatments. This end of life care programme provides ongoing meditation and family focus in a palliative format that culminates in the child receiving a black-belt in a public ceremony, usually a few days before he or she dies. Embroidered on the black-belt are the words “Master Teacher”, because that child is truly teaching the world how to use the power of light to break through the darkness.

“As a global brand represented by a proudly South African company, Kia Motors South Africa continuously embraces the optimism and resilience that is so prevalent in among our rainbow nation, even when times are tough,” said David Sieff, marketing director of Kia Motors South Africa.

“We are in awe of the Kids Kicking Cancer programme and how it teaches children who are fighting the toughest battle of their life to not only cope with their own situation but to teach others – including their family – that there is a purpose for their lives.”

For more, go to www.kidskickingcancer.co.za.