Karate kid aimsfor 3,000 kicks in gran's name

A DETERMINED young girl is aiming to complete 3,000 karate kicks in an hour to raise cash for charity.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Jun 2016, 09:23 BST
Updated 27th Jun 2016, 10:28 BST
Josie Parrott, nine, from Hayling Island, aims to complete 3,000 karate kicks in an hour at fundraiser for a sarcoidosis charity after her grandmother Dawn Kilburn died of the condition two years ago. Picture: Sarah Standing (160808-2118)Josie Parrott, nine, from Hayling Island, aims to complete 3,000 karate kicks in an hour at fundraiser for a sarcoidosis charity after her grandmother Dawn Kilburn died of the condition two years ago. Picture: Sarah Standing (160808-2118)
Josie Parrott, nine, from Hayling Island, aims to complete 3,000 karate kicks in an hour at fundraiser for a sarcoidosis charity after her grandmother Dawn Kilburn died of the condition two years ago. Picture: Sarah Standing (160808-2118)

Josie Parrott is completing the challenge in memory of her grandmother who died from sarcoidosis two years ago.

The nine-year-old has decided to raise money for SILA, a sarcoidosis charity, by organising the kickathon event called Kicking for a Kure, which will include a karate kicking competition and charity raffle.

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Josie said: ‘My grandma was one of my best friends, she was there at my first karate lesson so I’m doing this for her.’

Sarcoidosis is a rare inflammatory disease without any known cure but Josie is hoping her kickathon event will raise funds to help change that.

She said: ‘Hopefully Kicking for a Kure will raise lots of money for SILA and also make people more aware of the horrible condition.’

Josie, a member of Island Karate Club in Hayling, said: ‘I’m really looking forward to the kickathon. It will be a fun way of raising money for such a good cause.’

Josie’s dad Marc said: ‘I am so proud of her.

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‘Kicking for a Kure will be a great day and it has all been Josie’s idea. She has gone about organising it all with only a little help.’Marc said: ‘Josie was exceptionally close to her grandmother and she found it hard when she died, so the event means a lot to Josie.’

Josie is aiming to raise £2,000 for SILA.

A SILA spokesperson said: ‘The charity is completely reliant on support from 
fundraisers such as Josie.

‘Without events like these we would not be able to carry out the work we do. Good luck Josie.’

Kicking for a Kure will be held on Sunday, July 17 at the Hayling Island Community Centre.

To support Josie, head online to justgiving.com/kickingforakure.