Kickathon benefits Relay for Life

Staff Reports

More than 40 members of Northwest Martial Arts kicked a total of 22,757 kicks at an average of more than 500 kicks per person in a one-hour kickathon event to raise money for Relay for Life on May 31.

Northwest Martial Arts owner and master instructor Nyls Rothfusz said he was hoping the group that ranged in ages 6 to 60 would complete 10,000 kicks so he could throw a pizza party for them.

Participants in the kick-a-thon performed a variety of kicks for 30 minutes, took a 5-minute break, then continued for the remainder of the hour.

"I knew I was going be hosting a party for everyone at the halfway point. We were already over 10,000 kicks by then," said Rothfusz. "The biggest kickers for the day were a group of teens and adults. In the final 25 minutes of the kickathon, they performed over 4,500 kicks just by themselves. One individual even did 150 kicks without stopping. Guess I owe them a party."

The team has raised more than $1,500 for Relay for Life through the kickathon and a parents' night out party and have more fundraising events planned.

"Our original goal was to raise $1,000 by the Relay for Life walk-a-thon in July, but because of the generosity of the community, we've already hit that goal," said Relay for Life team leader Christina Rodriguez. "We hope to double our goal by July."

The Relay for Life team will be having a car wash, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 28 at Northwest Martial Arts, 1321 Highway 395, Gardnerville.

For information about the Relay for Life car wash, call Northwest Martial Arts at 782-8858.