1. Short Thank You to KA for granting Maurice this honor.

2. Experience at the Children’s Hospital
Last December Maurice was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After the initial diagnosis, by his pediatrician at Meriter hospital, we were sent to the UW Children’s Hospital. When we arrived at the UWCH, we were in shock and overwhelmed. Fortunately, the doctors were totally prepared to deal with the situation and guide us through it. Despite the fact that is was a Holiday weekend, they immediately conducted another MRI to make sure the tumor had not spread, and within 24 hours of our arrival at the hospital they had removed the tumor. In the subsequent months, Maurice has been treated with radiation and chemotherapy to try to prevent his cancer from returning. As we have educated ourselves about Maurice’s condition and its treatment, it has become clear that the UWCH is among the most well staffed and well equipped children’s cancer centers in the US, and probably in the world. In addition to the technical aspects of his care such as surgery and chemotherapy, the staff at the hospital have helped him get on the road to rehabilitation and adjusting to having this disease. We are really fortunate to have this hospital in our community, and you really don’t know what that means until you need it. During the last 7 months we have spent a lot of time at the UWCH, and as another testament to the quality of the hospital, I would point out that many many times we were asked by the hospital staff, “Your from Madison?”. The UWCH, at least the cancer center, draws patients from all over the Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, and Eastern Minnesota. In fact it is less common for them to get a cancer patient from Madison itself. So Karate America and everyone who donated to this fundraiser truly deserves a hearty thank you for choosing to support this world-class, worthy cause.

3. Short, but more detailed thank you to KA
I would like also to take a moment to thank Ms. Esse and her staff for helping Mo get back on his feet as he is battling this illness. Mo was out for a couple of months and since his return to karate, Ms. Esse and the other Karate America staff have gone out of their way to make sure he is safe on the floor and have given him special attention to help him work up to his potential and beyond. Mo really loves attending classes at your academy, and it has been by far the most important activity for getting him to exercise and work on rebuilding his coordination after the surgery and through the side effects of the chemotherapy. I’d like to extend an extra thanks to Mr. Murphy for the extra attention he has given Mo. It is impressive to earn stripes on your belt for your prowess in the martial arts, but I think your stripes also represent compassion, a characteristic equally worthy of admiration.

4. Congrats to Mo
Finally, I would like to congratulate Mo on receiving this honor. You are facing this extraordinary challenge with tremendous bravery and courage, and you are an inspiration to me and your mom, the rest of your family, your teachers and friends, the staff at the hospital, and many people you don’t know. This is a deep demonstration of your Blackbelt Attitude – you have truly earned this honor. When Mo realized that the Kickathon was a fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital, he wrote a beautiful email telling our relatives and friends how much it means to him that Karate America is raising money for the hospital where he has received so much treatment. Everyone responded generously, with Uncle Steven deserving an extra thank you. Buddy, you have inspired the people who love you into action, and you have really earned this honor.
As Mo was preparing for the kickathon, he told several of the hospital staff about it and asked them what they thought the money should be used for. He always told them that his 2 ideas were a new med flight helicopter or a new mobile MRI machine. None of the hospital staff could top those suggestions, though the nurse-practitioner in the oncology department suggested that raising her salary would be a great use of the money. I’m sure the money from the Karate America will be put to good use for some worthy cause somewhere between those 3 lofty goals...

Congratulations again. We all love you very much.
Thank you again for this honor.