Kia donates to Kids Kicking Cancer South Africa

The programme teaches the children breath work and meditation through traditional martial arts and karate movements, the programme also enables the participants to teach these methods to other children suffering from challenging illnesses and thus provides purpose to their lives. The programme which was launched locally in October 2018 is already active in 10 public hospitals around the country.

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

After losing his first child to leukaemia in 1999, Professor Elimelech Goldberg, a black belt rabbi and clinical assistant professor of paediatrics started Kids Kicking Cancer. The programme, now active in 48 hospitals across five countries is teaching more than 5 000 children globally the techniques which inspire to ease the pain of very sick children while empowering them to heal physically, spiritually and emotionally.

Forming part of Kia Motors’ pursuit of making a difference in the lives of others, Kia Motors South Africa donated R100 000 to Kids Kicking Cancer South Africa which will be used to increase the reach of the programme.

“It’s incredible to get support like this from Kia Motors, going into the hospitals every day, I’ve experienced first-hand how the KKC programme has been able to ease the pain of these very sick children. The sponsorship from Kia will allow us to increase the reach to more kids in more hospitals around the country,” Moses Sebopa, Gauteng KKC coordinator and SA Karate captain.

The Kids Kicking Cancer organisation also provides an end of life care programme with meditation and family focus and ends with the child receiving a black-belt in a public ceremony. KKC’s mantra is Power Peace Purpose, and when asked what their purpose is, the kids yell out: “To teach the world!”

“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. 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,” David Sieff, Marketing Director, Kia Motors South Africa.

For more information on Kids Kicking Cancer South Africa, please visit www.kidskickingcancer.co.za