Submitted by Lisa Freed
Board-breaking week at Callahan’s Karate ends on Saturday, August 29, as the school and community participate in the Kevin Thompson Breaking Through ALS Challenge.
While everyone has heard of the Ice Bucket Challenge, raising millions for ALS research, the martial arts community is also participating in this board breaking challenge.
ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease: ALS is a degenerative progressive neuro-muscular disease affecting the motor nerves from the brain and the spinal cord. When these motor nerves (neurons) die, the muscles that the nerves innervate (supply with oxygen) become weak.
Rob Ackerman, Bedford High School senior and a second degree black belt and instructor at Callahan’s, initiated the event. ALS has not only affected the martial arts community but his own family. Rob’s grandfather passed away from ALS in 1996, before he even had the chance to meet him. So Rob chose to bring this event to Callahan’s, with the full support of the entire team there.
Students, parents, family were encouraged to contribute $5 to break a wood board. ALL of the money contributed will go towards research to help find a cure and help save lives. The wooden boards were generously donated by the karate school.
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