The Oyster Bay-East Norwich Police Activity League Karate program recently participated in the fifth annual nationwide Kick-A-Thon fund-raiser event. Coming close to its previous record of 90,000 kicks in one hour, the OBEN PAL Karate program successfully completed just fewer than 75,000 kicks.

The Kick-A-Thon is an event to raise money for "at risk" children. Participants raise money through sponsors to allow underprivileged children access to the community's physical and cultural programs. Eighty percent of the money raised comes right back to the local community. Of the staggering nationwide total, this year the OBEN PAL Karate program raised almost $1,500, bringing the money available to the kids in our community to $3,000.

Twenty-one students participated this year in the event, sponsored by Project Action, as part of National Martial Arts Day (NMAD). NMAD, created by Project Action and the National Association of Professional Martial Artists, is designed to bring awareness and positive recognition to the arts.

Anyone interested in participation in the Karate program may come down to the Oyster Bay Community Center any Wednesday or Friday night from 6 - 8 p.m. For more information, contact Sifu Andrew Hall at 922-4180.