Hounoring a great man taken too soon.
Through donations made in Travis’ memory Hearts for Martial Arts was able to award $10,000 in scholarship money to 5 gyms throughout Ontario today.
The funds will be used to set up yearlong training memberships for several youth in each community.
ALICE WRIGHT
MEMBER SINCE
2019
I’m writing to be able to say how grateful we are for the Hearts For Martial Arts so that Alice can continue her training at Kalsamrit gym.
Kalsamrit gym bowmanville is a really special place for children, my granddaughter Alice started classes at the gym in October 2019, when she was five years old. In her first month as a member she had been to a Kalsamrit Halloween party and had an awesome birthday party there for her sixth birthday, and she was loving her Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu classes.
The coaches at Kalsamrit really care about the children, and they motivate and encourage them to be healthy and strong. There’s so many times the coaches have gone above and beyond to help Alice. Kru Barry did personal 1 on 1 training sessions on Zoom to train Alice all through the pandemic. Kru Bob has helped so much and has become Alice’s go to coach for strength training at the gym. Kru Bubba helped Alice learn how to ride a bike without training wheels. Young coaches Dylan, Emily and Josh share their love for martial arts with Alice while they spend time with her. Kru B is always ready to help all the children at the gym by letting them know he is in their corner. Kru B has a real ability to help every child find their self-confidence. Every single coach at Kalsamrit gym has had a positive influence on Alice’s life.
Over the last three years Kalsamrit gym has become like a second home to Alice, and the members have become like family. During the pandemic, in lockdown times, coaches kept the kids connected and exercising with regular online Zoom classes. When pandemic rules allowed, the gym held classes outside to be safer for the children and their families. Throughout the pandemic while people were feeling isolated and alone the Kalsamrit gym kept the members banded together.
I am thankful that Alice has the opportunity to train in her martial arts classes at Kalsamrit. I am a Grandmother who is raising Alice myself. I have a rare genetic condition called Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. It is a chronic progressive illness that has resulted in lung and liver disease. I am on disability support but our struggle is real financially. I am grateful for the support from Kalsamrit so that Alice can learn to defend herself, stay strong and healthy, and have fun at the gym. The coaches are positive role models for Alice, especially in our family circumstances.
Alice is happy to train at Kalsamrit. She has had so much fun at the parties for the children, and at summer camp with her friends at the gym. She looks to the coaches for advice, encouragement and kindness, and I see her becoming more self-confident. With the support from hearts for martial arts Alice will be able to continue growing up at Kalsamrit.
OWEN
MEMBER SINCE
2022
The last couple of years have been tough for me professionally, financially, and mentally. With Covid and the loss of my job, providing for my son Owen hasn’t been easy.
Having being clinically diagnosed with bi polar coupled with alcohol abuse, I’ve had to do a lot including recognizing these issues and get on the right medication to stabilize. I’ve been sober for over 2 years and trying to be the best father I can be.
Many of my issues lead to a failed marriage, but with an incredible son who deserved more, I got back to work selling trailers, and right as Covid hit – I lost my job.
My ten year old son Owen, is the most polite kid you’ll ever meet, but does deal with depression. The time away from his friends at school didn’t suit him well and with me losing my job, trying to kickstart things – I was worried he was going to lose out on what he loved doing most, going to Kalsamrit and doing MMA. The bond he has with the kids there is the most special thing to me as a parent and I was crushed I couldn’t afford to do it anymore. It made me feel like I let him down.
I heard about Hearts for Martial Arts and applied, and with their help – and only with their help, Owen is back doing what he loves the most! Owen was so happy and joyed when I told him he could keep wrestling and going Kalsamrit, he couldn’t believe it, neither could I!
Owen wants to do tournaments and be on the team, and who he becomes as a man and the physical activity and character he receives is literally all due to Hearts for Martial Arts and I can’t thank them enough for what they did for my son. It brought us both to tears.
Owen is so happy to be able to make friends, compete
and be at the gym.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
GEORGE
SPONSORED CHILD FROM UKRAINE
Please Welcome George to the Hearts for Martial Arts community! George recently moved to Port Perry Ontario leaving the War in Ukraine and now residing in Canada!
The Hearts for Martial Arts foundation has found a gym for George and has sponsored a full year of Martial Arts training with gear and a full summer of kid’s summer camp fun! George is so excited to continue being able to train as he previously trained karate in Ukraine and is excited to meet friends before he starts school in September here in Canada! Elmira, Yuri and George went to meet Brendan and his team this evening at Kalsamrit Martial Arts (Port Perry location). The team there was absolutely amazing! They took the time to show the family around the gym, meet some of the other members and were genuinely excited to welcome George to the Kalsamrit family. The family would like to send out a huge thank you to Kalsamrit Martial Arts and The Hearts for Martial Arts Foundation for sponsoring George’s membership and summer camp.George is over the moon and excited to start to train in Muay Thai & Jiu-Jitsu. What an amazing opportunity to learn new skills, meet other kids his age and most importantly. HAVE FUN!Thank you again for putting a smile on everyone’s face, as well as a tear in each of our eyes, with this heartfelt donation.
-Patricia Leroux
CLARINGTON PROJECTS
SINCE 2018
Please accept this letter as our recognition of everything Kalsamrit Martial Arts and the Hearts for Martial Arts Foundation has done for Community Living Oshawa/Clarington, Clarington Project. Upon our connection 5 years ago, we never imagined the joy Kalsamrit Martial Arts class and group of coaches would bring to the individuals that Clarington Project supports.
Brendan, you and your team of coaches, have gone above and beyond… attending Clarington Project Gala’s/fundraisers, in-house special events, teaching lessons tailored to the Clarington Project group, that has and continues to empower all levels of abilities while offering us with a space full of pure acceptance and love – in addition providing, transportation from our location to yours, when the number of participants was beyond our transportation capacity.
The individuals we support our forever grateful and live through these experiences. We are often reminded of these times through pictures, belts, t-shirts, conversation and these memories make a difference…”the time coach came and picked us up in the Kalsamrit Martial Arts bus, the time Brendan surprised us all with new gloves and shirts, the time coach set up matches in the actual ring, the time a member won the match against the coach and lets not forget about our VIP seating/front row seats to a very cool evening event at Kalsamrit”.
The Hearts for Martial Arts Foundation and the coaches have had an incredible impact and continue to do so – you are a part of Clarington Project and close to our hearts.
Kalsamrit Martial Arts and the team of coaches have given so much to our community, it examples engagement and inclusion, for this we thank you!
A WELL MIND LITERACY GROUP
SINCE 2022
Hearts for Martial Arts had the pleasure of sponsoring A Well Mind’s Literacy Group for Fitness Training. The program focuses on reading remediation, mental health skill building, and movement.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM HERE
