2008 Recap
The true strength of this organization is in the commitment
of our licensees, our instructors and our members around the
world who believe that Krav Maga saves lives. Those very
same individuals are just as serious about saving lives as
they are committed to the health and safety of their
respective communities!
Krav Maga Worldwide, Inc. teamed with STOP CANCER, a
nonprofit organization dedicated to funding cancer
research, in the fight against breast cancer, after the
highest ranking female Krav Maga instructor, Marni Levine,
passed away after a five-year battle with breast cancer on
August 31, 2006. Marni Levine was a fourth degree black
belt, a founding partner of the Krav Maga Worldwide Training
Centers in West Los Angeles and Sherman Oaks, a 37-year-old
mother of two, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a teacher and a
true fighter.
Since Marni's death in 2006, every year in the month of
October, the Krav Maga Worldwide Training Centers, in
conjunction with over 50 Krav Maga Worldwide locations
around the world, host a self-defense seminar to raise money
for cancer research. Every single dollar that is collected
for The Marni Fund goes to Stop Cancer; with each $1 raised
having the impact of $2 for breast cancer research.
The Krav Maga Fights Cancer™ seminars focus on two of Krav
Maga’s most important principles; personal safety and having
a fighting spirit. The goals of the event are threefold:
-
to teach people to protect themselves,
-
to raise $50,000 to help find a cure for breast cancer,
and
-
to honor the memory of Marni Levine.
On October 4, 2008 the Krav Maga Worldwide Training Center
in West Los Angeles hosted three different seminars for
their members. 1) Advance Krav Maga Training 2) Fast Defense
for Kids and 3) Women-Only Rape Prevention seminar. We had a
great turn out with new and current students attending this
event!
In addition to the seminar, Krav Maga Worldwide was invited
to The Grove in Los Angeles, CA on October 11 and 12 to
spread cancer awareness as well as to demonstrate our Krav
Maga self defense program for both kids and adults.
Click
here for more information on The Grove.
This year, with the help and the participation of our
licensed Krav Maga Worldwide official training centers and
members, we have already collected over $94,000 with
donations still coming in.
Since 2006 we have collected $221,000 for the Marni Fund,
benefiting cancer research.
Through the Marni Fund, the Marni Levine Memorial Breast
Cancer Research Award provides $25,000 a year and is matched
in-kind by the receiving institution to create a value of
$50,000 per year to each award recipient for a total of two
years.
The first Marni Levine Memorial Breast Cancer Research Award
went to Dr. Melanie Palomares from the City of Hope
Comprehensive Cancer Center, in November 2006. Melanie
received a continuing award, again through The Marni Fund,
on November 29, 2007 and October 7, 2008.
Dr. Sara Hurvitz is a Clinical Instructor in the Division of
Hematology-Oncology at UCLA who specializes in the treatment
of breast cancer. She received her MD from USC and completed
residency training at UCLA. She is currently leading the
Breast Oncology Program in the Division of
Hematology-Oncology there.
Sara is in charge of national and international breast
cancer clinical trials that evaluate new, promising
treatments for both early stage and advanced breast cancer.
She states that it is clear now that breast cancer is not
one disease but many different types, each with a different
biological cause and each deserving of a specific therapy.
Data obtained from each of these trials will provide
critical information that may be used to develop new
therapies.
With funds provided by the STOP CANCER Marni Levine Memorial
Breast Cancer Award, through the Marni Fund, Dr. Hurvitz is
evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a novel
medication that works by stopping the growth of new blood
vessels around tumors in patients with high-risk breast
cancer. Sara received a continuing award through The Marni
Fund on November 29, 2007.
Dr. Christopher Haiman, a former STOP CANCER Awardee, is an
Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine at the University
of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.
He received his Doctor of Science degree at Harvard
University School of Public Health and completed his
Postdoctoral Fellowship at USC.
Dr. Haiman is currently working on a program called “Genetic
Susceptibility to Breast Cancer.” With funds provided by the
STOP CANCER Marni Levine Memorial Breast Cancer Research
Award, he is focusing on employing analyses centered on
disequilibrium mapping to identify novel susceptibility
alleles (one member of a pair of genes that occupy a
specific position on a specific chromosome). He is hoping to
define genetic profiles that may be utilized to provide
chemo preventive regimens and earlier, more intensive
screening strategies. Christopher received a continuing
award through The Marni Fund on November 29, 2007.
The Krav Maga Worldwide family wants to thank you, the
licensees, the instructors, our members and every single
individual who has participated in this community event
since we started in 2006. People all over the world are
learning to fight for their lives and, by participating,
will also be fighting for the lives of hundreds of thousands
of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. We
are really proud to work with such an amazing group of
people. Thank you for all your support and for spreading
awareness not only among your students and your families,
but among your communities as well.
Click here for more information about Marni.
Click
here for more information about STOP CANCER.
STOP
CANCER™ was created to meet the need for cancer
research funding, and Krav Maga™ is joining the fight to
“help make the world a better place” by increasing personal
safety in our communities and stopping cancer. The goal is
to raise more than $50,000 for cancer research at National
Cancer Institute—designated comprehensive cancer centers.
These funds will be matched by receiving hospitals with an
impact of $100,000 toward cancer research.
Will
you join our fight to
STOP CANCER in our lifetime?
Donate Here
