IN Monroeville Winter 2018 | Page 21

A n inspiring group of martial artists have made it their mission to KICK Parkinson’s disease—literally. On Sept. 3, the Viola Karate Dojo and sister program Norwin Ninjas assembled more than 100 students to make a bold statement and kick non-stop for one mile at Boyce Park. The students showcased their skill and donated over $10,000 to the Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (PIND) for research. The “KICK” concept was developed by Irwin native Bill Viola, Jr., founder of Kumite Classic Entertainment, and former Mayor and State Senator Sean Logan. “I have been involved in charitable work since my senior year at Pitt, when I established ‘Kumite International’ collegiate scholarships,” says Viola. “KICK (Kumite International Competitive Karate) is a partnership program with Western PA Police Athletic League and Eckert Seamans law firm in which we allocated $50,000 in scholarship funds for karate athletes. The program made national news when Lynn Swann, then Chairman of President George W. Bush’s Council of Physical Fitness and Sports, presented the scholarships with me at the 2004 Kumite Classic at the old Monroeville ExpoMart.” Shortly after, Viola’s grandmother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease— and he and his family saw firsthand the damage the disease can inflict. After she passed away, Viola, his wife, Jenn, and daughter, Gabby, wanted to find a way to honor her memory. In 2016, he connected with Senator Sean Logan, who had been recently diagnosed with early- onset Parkinson’s and wanted to hold a 5K fundraiser for research. Logan developed a 5K to promote his “Do Something” campaign as a means to encourage exercise. Physical activity has been proven to be an effective method to Bill Viola, Jr. with his combat Parkinson’s daughter, Gabby. disease. “I was all in,” says Viola. “After my family ran the first year, I told him I wanted to help him expand the event and create the first-ever KICK portion.” Viola partnered with Logan in 2017 to add a “Kick-a-thon” element to the 5K, and its growth has been exponential. Viola explains, “Last year the KICK raised just over $5,000 with 50 participants. This year we doubled both, bringing us up to over $15,000 with just two kick-a-thons.” The PIND event offers a unique twist to the traditional 5K by incorporating Viola’s kick-a-thon concept. “There are a lot of in-house kick-a-thons that take place at schools, but none that actually kick for distance. This is the first of its kind,” he says. The estimated number of kicks by each participant was 1,500 so with over 100 students, the total number was approximately 150,000 kicks. “The cause is near and dear to my heart,” notes Viola. “I’ve been looking for a way to fight this epidemic, and having my school KICK for a cure was a perfect fit. Building Viola Karate Dojo character is an important part of martial arts. My students exceeded my expectations. Their selflessness is incredible.” Nine-year-old Mike Barone led the group by donating over $2,000 followed by 11-year-old Aidan Thornton ($900) and 7-year-old Madden McKeever ($800). Viola’s daughter Gabby also participated and raised money in honor of her grandmother. “I never got to meet my Non so this is how we honor her,” she says. “Karate teaches courage—I will always fight to find a cure.” In just three years, through corporate sponsorships and race participants, the PIND 5K has surpassed more than $300,000 in total donations. Although Viola is known for his competitive success in karate, he finds more gratification in efforts like the KICK scholarship and the PIND event. “Trophies collect dust, but making an impact on the community is priceless. Participants and my students are making a difference and learning the value of paying it forward. I tell them, ‘Kick with kindness and create an endless ripple.’” PIND spearheads efforts to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Huntington’s disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. The kids already have plans to “Kick Parkinson’s” again next year. For more information, visit PIND5K.org. n MONROEVILLE ❘ WINTER 2018 19