Kicking Cancer

With a black sharpie, she wrote the word cancer to honor her niece who is battling cancer, Alexis Ackley. Kebort wasn’t sure how successful she would be with the amount of emotion behind it.

Sure enough to her liking, the slab broke.

A benefit for Alexis, a young girl battling cancer, kicked off at the Jamestown YMCA on Saturday morning. Students of Kebort’s Karate Tigers came to kick out cancer and honor Alexis. Demonstrations were given throughout the morning to show different moves and tactics of karate, which Kebort stated is solely for self-defense.

After the demonstrations, the time was right to kick and break some boards. The young karate kids cut the boards in half with their feet while Kebort and Michael Phillips, assistant instructor, cut boards in half with their feet and fists. After they smashed the boards in half, it became time for Alexis to cut one in half too. Kebort, who is the aunt of Alexis, stood beside as she split a board, with the word cancer, in half. Parents and supporters who came out clapped an cheered.