The Challenge for Burma . . .

By Jamie Lakes, Sales & Marketing Director for AMA

"CHALLENGES" can come at any time in one's life, with differing degrees of complexity and scale.

As the new Sales and Marketing Manager for Arakan Martial Art my first "CHALLENGE" was to organise a fund raiser for the people of Burma, who have been devastated by Cyclone Nargis on Saturday, May 3. With an estimated 200,000 dead, 220,000 missing and up to 2.4 million people lacking drinking water, food and shelter (40% of these being children), I didn't need any greater motivation to do what I could to help the affected Burmese people.

Thus the 'Burma Relief Appeal' was born and subsequently held at Broadbeach State School on a perfect Sunday, June 15.

Sixteen Arakan Martial Art Instructors gave their time to conduct lessons to Arakan students and the public from 6am -5pm with the lesson investment being their donation to the Burma Relief Appeal. In total they taught over 300 lessons on the day! Overall, with lesson investments, donations, raffle ticket sales, BBQ and jumping castle takings, Arakan Martial Art raised over $40,000. This is a large sum of money by most people's standards but even more so when utilised in a country like Burma.

Save the Children Australia has used the money raised to distribute relief supplies to affected families throughout Burma including supplies include rice, water, oral-rehydration solution, blankets and materials for cooking and shelter. They have also set up child friendly spaces in camps across the affected areas, which give children a safe place to play and help them deal with the trauma they have experienced.

I would like to personally thank the Chief Instructor of Arakan Martial Art, Robert Kyaw, for the idea of this charity event and his invaluable input and guidance. Robert is Burmese and has family still living in Burma, so the need to act quickly and effectively to help raise funds to help the people recover from this disaster was very close to his heart.

To all of the Arakan Instructors, volunteers (HUGE thanks to Andrew Stone), the businesses that offered prizes for our raffle, the public that attended, service providers who sold their wares and donated the takings, your altruistic behavior is a true and absolute indication on what can be achieved by an individual, and a collective, with the motive of helping-out your fellow human beings as the prime motivator.

To Tif James and the Team at Australian Sports Nutrition, many thanks for your efforts on the day and ASN's contribution of their exclusive, imported supplements to all those who were in need of replenishment and refueling on the day was greatly appreciated.

The Burma Relief Appeal CHALLENGE that I embraced has made a significant impact on me, and the day itself on so many others, and I am truly thankful for being a part of it.

Arakan student Kirsi practising a reverse hand strike