CMN Board Break-a-thon

What do you get when you put 1,000 boards in a Tae-kwon-do studio with 20 students and 10 black belts? You get one kick-butt (HA, pun!) fundraiser!

Last Friday, I was invited to share in the Hockman's Tae-kwon-do CMN Board Break-A-Thon. Thirty students along with Jade Hockman and the other instructors pledged to raise $25,000 in the next 5 years for Children's Miracle Network and University of Missouri's Children's Hospital through various fundraisers.  After collecting donations from family and friends, the students gathered together with a mission: break 1,000 boards in less than an hour for their first fundraiser for CMN. 

Currently, the Children's Hospital in Columbia, Mo is moving from two floors in University Hospital to their own building (formerly, Columbia Regional Hospital). Phase 1 was completed this year, moving all inpatient procedures, including cardiac care, physical therapy, psychiatry, pulmonary care, oncology, neonatal care, obstetrics, and all 56 of the 100% private inpatient rooms. A new pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) provides state-of-the-art critical care with 13 patient rooms while the 38-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provides care for the tiniest Missourians.  Now, the new Children's Hospital is building their outpatient clinic (or Phase 2), for regular visits and follow-ups. After all construction is completed, all care for the kiddos will be consolidated into one building, making the hospital one of only 50 free-standing children's hospitals in the United States as well as the only children's hospital serving mid-Missouri. In total, the renovations are going to cost $12 million. Hockman and his crew helped to make that load a little lighter for Children's. To see a photo tour of the renovations click here. 

Not only did the Tae-kwon-do crew meet their goal of breaking 1,000 boards, they did so in only 40 minutes! I even got to hold some of the practice boards for the karate masters that were under 7 years old (and they still knocked me over with their kicks!). In all, the event raised $12,500 (half of their pledged goal)! Congratulations to Jade and the rest of the ATA Tae-kwon-do students and staff!

Thanks to Jade Hockman, Karen McBride and Kelly-Ann Kristie for letting me share in this wonderful and powerful event!