Do the Right Thing

Down here in beautiful, cosmopolitan Ft. Myers the sheriff has a program called "Do the Right Thing". It's objective is to identify and reward stand-out actions by youth in the community and reward it. It's gone a bit more commercial over the years but it's worthy by any standard. By commercial I mean that businesses have gotten into the act and the recipients get goody bags of stuff with business names and a program at the event that essentially is advertising. OK, I understand. Less, if any tax dollars involved in the "prize" but we still have to pay for all the staff there at the presentations.

Anyway. In the years since it's inception in the early 90's, I have been proud to be a part of the team of parents, schoolteachers, neighbors,the sheriff's office, and others who have been involved in the growth of these kids. In my time here I have had four or five kids in my studio receive the award. One bought teddy bears for children in the hospital with his own money. Another saved another child's life by pulling them out of a pool where they had started to drown.

It meant a lot to me to be asked by the parents to be there for the award ceremony. They asked me to stand in the photos with the child, the parents, and the sheriff. That's huge. It is symbolic of the effect we have as instructors on their children's lives (and theirs, too).
Raise them right.

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Lee Wedlake has been teaching Kenpo Karate for over 35 years and has written a variety of Kenpo Books about different kenpo katas and kenpo concepts. Mr. Wedlake has worked directly with Ed Parker and is generous with his knowledge and his time. He is available for Kenpo Seminars and camps.