“Kicking it for Cancer”

Donates more than $6000 to Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital Cancer Center

On June 5, 2018 more than 50 Taekwondo students symbolically and benevolently targeted cancer at the recent “Kicking it for Cancer” break-a-thon at Sycamore High School. The event, organized by Bill Cho’s United Taekwondo Center, raised $6,338 for the Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital Cancer Center.

As part of sixth-degree black belt testing, students were asked to secure sponsors to break boards. The boards included the names of family members, friends and community members who are fighting Cancer or in memory of someone who has passed from Cancer.

“By breaking boards in honor of family, friends, and community members, we want to help those who are fighting Cancer feel supported and strong,” said Jayna Bartelt, manager at Bill Cho’s United Taekwondo Center. “Our number one goal, above all else is teaching character building.”

Master Young Kim, Bartelt and members of the Bill Cho Demo team recently presented a check to Robert Bayer, MD, medical director, and Alan Wan, DO, medical oncologist at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital Cancer Center. The funds will be used for support groups, educational programs and community outreach.

“The hard work and dedication of these young athletes to give back to the community is inspirational,” said Dr. Bayer. “We are honored they would select our center as the sole beneficiary of their fundraiser.”

In addition to the student fundraising, 14 local businesses sponsored the event and 17 local businesses and individuals gave prizes for a raffle to raise additional money. “It is wonderful for our patients to know that these outstanding young students and local businesses are sending waves of positive energy our way,” said Dr. Wan.

Due to this year’s success, Bartelt says the break-a-thon may become an annual event. “We were completely overwhelmed with complete pride and joy in seeing our students faces light up when they would tell us how much they had raised for the Cancer Center,” said Bartelt.

The Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital Cancer Program is accredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC), a program of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS), that recognizes Cancer Care programs for their commitment to providing comprehensive, high-quality, and multidisciplinary patient centered care.

To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit nm.org.   

In the Above Photo: Jayna Bartelt, Master Young Kim and members of the Bill Cho demo team present a donation check to Robert Bayer, MD, medical director, and Alan Wan, DO, medical oncologist at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital Cancer Center.