Taekwon-do federation fundraises for world title trip

A group of 16 taekwon-do competitors will be striking plenty of blows at the Taekwon-do ITF World Cup in Santiago, Argentina, this October.

Special Needs Taekwon-Do Federation of NZ, a registered charity, has kicked off its campaign to fundraise for the trip, with a raffle boasting first prize of a 2011 Holden Barina Spark.

Coach and Taekwon-do ITF Hawke’s Bay president Ben Evans says he was shocked when Regan Munro from Cars4UHB donated the manual petrol-driven car.

“This will help our team immensely. I am so thankful for his donation and so are the kids, the parents and everyone. I am raffling off 200 tickets at $100 each.”

Ben says other fundraising will include a kick-off campaign night on Friday, April 29, when they are hoping to run a quiz, a demonstration and a car wash.

The 9- to 18-year-olds attend Tamatea Primary, Tamatea Intermediate, Irongate, Karamu High and Heretaunga Intermediate Schools.

Ben held an official selection in late March, with those considered for the team completing a three-hour-long fitness test, patterns and recap of events they will be competing in on the world stage.

“We have a full schedule for the students, all geared to helping them succeed to the best of their ability. These kids are very dedicated and as their instructor, this makes me feel very proud.”

Ben believes the world championships will inspire the kids when they see the world’s best in action.

“Just like me when I went to my first one in Bulgaria in 2006, when I was 16. I hope more will follow in my footsteps and train with the DPR Korea team in Argentina.”

The Special Needs Taekwon-Do Federation of NZ charity is hoping to send a team to the world championships for those with disabilities in the Netherlands in 2023. New Zealand hosted the previous world event in 2019.

Ben who has been coaching children at their schools in Hawke’s Bay since 2006, is not only the team coach but also a 5th dan competitor, taking home a silver medal at the 2018 world champs in Buenos Aires and will be competing against others in the same grade and age group.

He says the team has excellent parental support, with around 14 already showing an interest in accompanying them on the trip, which will cost $64,000 to fund.

Check out www.facebook. com/NZITFTaekwondo for details about the raffle. For more information phone Ben on 0278573045.