Shelby Salon to Host Kids Kicking Cancer Gala Fundraiser at Villa Penna

While Lisa Cavallino admits her $50,000 fund-raising goal may be a bit ambitious for a first-time event, she plans to do everything in her power to make next week's Kids Kicking Cancer Gala a success for the organization that has stolen her heart.

A Macomb Township resident and co-owner of Salon Lux in Shelby Township, Cavallino has spent the last six months helping organize a Nov. 1 fund-raiser to benefit Kids Kicking Cancer, a nonprofit organization that helps child cancer patients manage the stress and pain of their disease by learning the focus and strength of martial arts.

"In the martial arts, you learn that pain is a message and you can bring in this amazing light, this chi, this karate power to push out the pain," said Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg, founder and director of Kids Kicking Cancer, in a previous interview with Patch.

Goldberg founded the organization more than a decade ago after observing firsthand how deep breathing techniques and meditation could help manage a child's pain during cancer treatment.

"If an adult screams in the middle of a painful procedure, the doctors find a better way to do things," Goldberg said. "When a kids screams, often they just hold them down harder. The goal of (Kids Kicking Cancer) is to empower the child."

Cavallino said it has been the goal of Salon Lux to partner with a local charity or nonprofit for some time. It only took one volunteer meeting to convince Cavallino that Kids Kicking Cancer was the best choice.

"I was introduced to Kids Kicking Cancer and went to one of their volunteer meetings where I met families and children involved in the organization," Cavallino said. "I was really touched, I have three little girls myself, and knew I wanted to do something with this group.”

Hosted by Salon Lux, the first Kids Kicking Cancer Gala will be held from 7 p.m. to 11:55 p.m. Nov. 1 at Villa Penna’s Banquet Hall at 43985 Hayes Rd. in Sterling Heights. It will include dinner, dancing, silent auction, raffles, entertainment and a martial arts demonstration from the kids of Kids Kicking Cancer.

Tickets are $100 per person and available online at Ticketbud. As of Wednesday, there were just over 100 tickets left.

“There are a lot of different charities and organizations you can support, but this organization helps the children going through cancer deal with the disease,” Cavallino said. “There are a lot of research charities, but this one is actually helping them cope on a day-to-day basis. It’s getting them involved with peer groups, teaching them martial arts therapy and giving them the strength to carry on.”

For more information about the event or sponsorship opportunities, contact Salon Lux at 586-781-6589 or Kids Kicking Cancer at 313-557-0021.