FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 27, 2015
QUEEN’S PARK – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett gave kudos to a local kickboxing group which came home with gold, silver and bronze in national championships.
The group meets a few times a week in the basement of the LaSalette hall – dubbed The Pitt. A handful of students have been training over the past few months for competition. Recently these students competed nationally and qualified for the world championships. Mr. Barrett’s executive assistant, Bobbi Ann Dwornikiewicz, is among the competitors headed for global competition.
“For some, it’s a place to escape the schoolyard bully and deal with anxiety in a safe, positive environment; for others it’s a place to get the adrenaline pumping and discover new muscles,” Barrett said in the Ontario Legislature. “Regardless, students leave The Pitt proud and simply can’t wait to return.”
The group will compete on the world stage in Orland, Florida this November and are launching a fundraising campaign to help with travel and the purchase of equipment.
-30-
For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org
HANSARD TRANSCRIPT
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2015
Mr. Toby Barrett: On any given night the population of the rural hamlet of La Salette is nearly doubled as children, teens and adults gather at The Pitt. The Pitt is a basement where local martial arts coaches Mike Hill and Greg Rockefeller are creating active, strong competitors through kick-boxing. Their equipment is used—it’s minimal—and yet they effectively train.
For some, it’s a place to escape the schoolyard bully and deal with anxiety in a safe, positive environment; for others it’s a place to get the adrenaline pumping and discover new muscles. Regardless, students leave The Pitt proud and simply can’t wait to return.
My executive assistant, Bobbi Ann, is one of those students. She calls The Pitt home and the other students her family.
Recently, a group of these students of various ages entered the World Karate and Kickboxing Commission provincial qualifiers. As a result, The Pitt earned the right to compete over the holiday weekend at the nationals in Ottawa. This group brought back gold, silver and bronze. Next stop is Orlando in November for the world championships.
In order to now compete globally they need better equipment, uniforms and some help with travel expenses.
It’s truly a story of the little engine that could, and I would ask anyone inspired by these accomplishments to help them get to Orlando to represent Canada on the world stage.