Illinois Shotokan Karate Club (ISKC) Hosts Jennifer Malloy Memorial Tournament at Harper College
Illinois Shotokan Karate Club (ISKC) will be hosting the 29th annual Jennifer Malloy Memorial Tournament at Harper College on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016.
The tournament was founded in early 1987 to benefit then ISKC student, Jennifer Malloy and her family. Just 13-years-old at the time, Malloy had been diagnosed with cancer.
One day while she was attending a karate class, Malloy's father confided in ISKC founder John DiPasquale that he was considering selling their family home to afford his daughter's experimental treatment. DiPasquale decided to organize the first 'Jennifer Malloy Kick Against Cancer' event in February of 1987, which raised $70,000 to help her family through their difficult time.
Throughout her battle, Malloy put on a strong front and continued to attend karate classes at Illinois Shotokan Karate Club in Palatine, despite the fact she was losing her hair and her treatment was taking a toll on her health. She even travelled out of state to compete in a tournament during that time, and despite all she was up against, she came in third place. Malloy's fighting spirit throughout her illness, DiPasquale said, was very much in line with the life lessons ISKC teaches all of its students, "to fight through adversity and to never give up."
Sadly, Malloy passed away in May of 1987, and then is when DiPasquale realized he could not let her memory or legacy go without being remembered on a yearly basis. Ever since, Illinois Shotokan Karate Club has hosted the Jennifer Malloy Memorial Tournament, where students from the 75 ISKC programs throughout Chicagoland are invited to compete.
Funds raised from competitor entry fees, as well as spectator entry fees go to the Jennifer Malloy Scholarship fund, which is awarded to one student each year at the November ISKC awards banquet. Funds also help the Families in Need Fund, which assists students whose families are experiencing financial hardship to continue taking karate classes at ISKC.
Area residents are invited to come out and cheer on the many competitors in a variety of categories from ages 4 to 94, who have a range of experience levels and belts.
The tournament will be held on Sunday, February 21, 2016 with doors opening at 8 a.m. at Harper College's Wellness and Sports Center, 1200 Algonquin Road in Palatine. Entry fees for spectators are $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and children 5-14, and entry is free for children 4 years of age and younger.
For more information, please visit http://iskc.com/ or call 847-359-0666.
ABOUT ILLINOIS SHOTOKAN KARATE CLUB:
Founded by John DiPasquale in 1978, Illinois Shotokan Karate Club is headquartered in Palatine, Illinois and has grown to serve 75 park districts around the Chicagoland area. The club offers recreational weekly classes taught by knowledgeable instructors, as well as opportunities to compete. In addition to four local tournaments hosted by ISKC each year, the club also offers the opportunity for students to compete in national and international tournaments. ISKC is known for their quality competitors and high level coaching. In 2013, the club had 28 athletes represent Team USA at the World Shotokan Karate Championships.
DiPasquale is a four-time National Champion and former United States Team Coach. Sensei DiPasquale was the only actively teaching karate coach in the country to have been named to the 27 member national faculty of the American Coaching Effectiveness Program (ACEP).
Park Districts served by ISKC include those located in Palatine, Arlington Heights, Barrington, Des Plaines, Rolling Meadows, Mount Prospect, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Wheeling, Streamwood, Inverness, Elgin, Carpentersville, Park Ridge, Roselle, Crystal Lake, Huntley, Gurnee, Grayslake, Libertyville, McHenry, Glenview, Northbrook, Highland Park, Skokie, Round Lake, Pingree Grove, Morton Grove, Bolingbrook, Wheaton, Naperville, Downers Grove, Mundelein, Carol Stream, Lisle, Romeoville, Glen Ellyn, Geneva, Plainfield, Joliet, St. Charles, Burr Ridge, Oswego, Lakewood, Clarendon Hills, Itasca, Burbank, Oak Park and locations in the city of Chicago.