A self defense training event will be held next weekend for women and girls in the St. Joseph Community.
The Kiwanis Club of St. Joseph along with the Ali Kemp Foundation are teaming up once again for the T.A.K.E. Self Defense Training Event. The event will be offered at no cost to women and girls ages 12 and above who participate. Sign in for the event begins at 9 a.m. at the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex on the campus of MWSU (4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64507). The training course runs from 10 a.m. – 12 noon on April 9.
The self-defense class is free, but those who choose to make a $20 donation will receive a Swag Bag and an event T-shirt. Donations will go toward supporting the work of St. Joseph Kiwanis and the Ali Kemp Foundation. In addition, the Kiwanis Club will also be conducting a drive to collect personal care items for the women and their families at the YWCA Shelter for Abused and Homeless Women and Children. Personal care and hygiene items can be brought to the event, and each person who makes a donation to the drive will be entered into a chance to win a Grand Prize Giveaway.
The T.A.K.E. event is scheduled to coordinate with Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. Sexual Assault Awareness Month was established to help educate individuals and families about the significant impact of sexual violence at home, in the workplace and across communities – as well as provide information about resources for healing.
Another way to protect against becoming the victim of sexual assault is to be as prepared as possible, should a potential attack occur. “One of the YWCA core values is the empowerment of women and this kind of event aligns perfectly with that goal,” says Carrie Turner the Training and Outreach Coordinator for the St. Joseph YWCA. “Women and young girls need to know that there are steps they can take to protect themselves.”
The event is expected to draw a large crowd. Last year’s event drew 160 women, and planners expect this year’s group to exceed that number. Online registration is encouraged. The specifics for the free T.A.K.E. Self-Defense Course are as follows:
When: Saturday, April 9, 2016
Time: 10:00 – 12:00, Registration begins at 9:00
Where: Griffon Indoor Sports Complex
Missouri Western State University
4525 Downs Drive
St. Joseph, MO 64507
Register online at: http://KiwanisTakeDefense.wix.com/take
Email [email protected] for more information.