Mixed martial arts never had so much heart before, as one Campbell Park fitness facility is offering training in the sport while using the proceeds to benefit a local charity.

Next Saturday, the Hayabusa Training Center will be the site of some kicks, punches, holds and rolls for SOMEFight, a lesson in the sport to help out Hunter’s Fight for a Cure. The event will feature a 15-minute overview from professional mixed martial artist (and the centre’s owner) Luke Harris who will then run people through some conditioning drills before they get coached in some basic striking techniques and wrestling/grappling moves.

Participants can then decide if they want to hop into the octagon or simply watch. At the end, some local pros will step in and show them how it’s done.

SOMEFight is sponsored by YEGSOME-X, a new local group that aims to creating unique meet-up opportunities that somehow benefit the community at large, using the vast powers of social media.

Co-founder Craig Pilgrim said that it shows how free events that benefit charities by donations can be very successful.

“[My partner and I] learned… that by donation format, people often pay some sum of money to do something that appeals to them. We created this entity Social Media X where ‘X’ is the unknown both in terms of the event – the experience – and the charity.”

Participation is by donation. Members of the public can enrol at www.eventbrite.ca and searching for ‘SOMEFight’ or learn more by checking out yegsomex.wordpress.com. It is for adults only and no experience is necessary.

Hunter’s Fight for a Cure helps to raise money to research treatment options for people with Diamond-Blackfan Anemia. Hunter Kuzik, now 8, has had the disease his entire life. He needs to get a new blood transfusion every three weeks. His 141st transfusion was yesterday.

His mom, charity founder Carrie Kuzik, said that she is very grateful for this help. She wanted to take the opportunity to send out a public service message about the constant need for blood donors.

“To me, blood donations aren’t little things,” stated Carrie Kuzik, the founder of the organization and mom to the little fighter himself. “Hunter is alive every day because people donate blood.”

To learn more, visit www.hunterscure.ca.

The next blood clinics scheduled for St. Albert are on the calendar for mid-November, but local residents can always visit Canadian Blood Services’ permanent clinic at 8249 114 Street near the University of Alberta Hospital.

Visit www.blood.ca to find out when and where the next clinics will be.

Coats for Kids all warmed up

For several years, the staff at Apex Casino have been encouraging patrons to help supply St. Albert’s Salvation Army with winter coats for kids and families. They have been taking in old but gently worn coats plus donations for purchasing new ones.

They also accept mitts and hats. All go to local residents struggling to make ends meet, especially through the cold, tough winters. Last year, $2,500 worth of new coats was purchased for the effort.

Sarah Van Dusen, sales and marketing manager at the entertainment centre, said that she looks forward to the collection every year.

“We’re going to have this huge, massive pile of coats.”

The effort is organized by the staff’s Helping Hands committee. Usually, it’s just an in-house collection but things are different now.

“This year, we’re trying to get the customers involved by having them donate as well.”

Donations must be in by the middle of next week. Call the casino at 780-460-8092 for more information.

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