Cary-Grove parent sets up funds for girls' self-defense

Statistically speaking, one in four high school girls will be sexually assaulted before they turn 18, according to the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

With that in mind, a Cary-Grove High School dad has taken steps to prevent some girls at the school from becoming part of that grim statistic. Joe Oswald of Cary is setting up a nonprofit group to pay for self-defense training.

The first session is scheduled for Oct. 17 and Oswald hopes it won't be the last.

"I just feel that something needs to be done - I can't let this go," said Oswald, whose 13-year-old daughter, Alicia, attends Cary Junior High School.

Right now, Oswald has enough money in the Cary-Grove Girls Self Defense Fund to pay for 10 girls to take the $40 class at Focus Martial Arts and Fitness in Lake in the Hills.

Of the 1,779 students enrolled at Cary-Grove, 857 are girls, said Jeff Puma, a spokesman for Crystal Lake High School District 155.

Alicia Oswald took the "fight like a girl" class last year and plans to take it again to stay current.

"It's important because it's for your safety and you never know what could happen," Alicia said, adding that she'll bring eight friends with her. "And (rape's) happening more and more these days, so you should really be prepared."

The instructors are specifically trained to help women defend themselves against sexual assault, said Sensei Jim O'Hara, who runs Focus Martial Arts and Fitness.

The three-hour class literally teaches women how to fight like women - by showing them how to use their physical strengths against a man's weaknesses, O'Hara said.

"It shows women that they have the strength and the ability to fight back and win," said O'Hara, who has three daughters of his own.

If you want more information about the fund or would like to make a donation, e-mail Oswald at cncman7210@comcast.net or call him at (847) 338-7235.