As you already know, Personal Trainer Toronto and Bamboo Kung Fu (a Toronto kung fu school affiliated with Personal Trainer Toronto) are participating in Oxfam Trailwalker Canada and walking the 100km in 48 hours across Ganaraska Trail in Ontario. We wanted to share a little more information about the members of our two teams.
Team Bamboo Kung Fu
Jonathan Forrest
My name is Jonathan Forrest. I have been with Personal Trainer Toronto and Bamboo Kung Fu School since February 2009. Prior to joining Bamboo Kung Fu, I trained in kung fu, jiujitsu and kickboxing for about 10 years in London, Ontario. I am a martial arts instructor at Bamboo Kung Fu School and pursuing Personal Trainer Specialist certification with Can-Fit-Pro.
I will attempt to hike 100 km in 48 hours across Ganaraska Trail in the Oxfam Trailwalker Canada 2010 to raise funds to make a difference in the lives of individuals living in poverty.
As a child, my family could not afford to pay for my martial arts training. Upon reaching my teenage years fortunately, my family worked hard and was able to subsidize for my martial arts classes. They gave me that introduction. After a year my parents in their wisdom told me that I had to pay for the martial arts lessons myself. So in getting a job I was able to work and earn money to pay for my martial arts lessons. I was lucky to have that opportunity. Now I walk so that others will be able to achieve their opportunities, whether it be to support their families, or create a future. Oxfam works directly with communities to build jobs and give families that chance.
In addition, I am able to challenge myself and build camaraderie with my fellow kung fu school friends.
Please DONATE to make a difference in the lives of those living in poverty.
Gigi Inara
Gigi is a student of Sifu Kin Sze at the Bamboo Kung Fu School in downtown Toronto and is a participant in this year’s Oxfam Trailwalker 2010.
Gigi is a graduate of the Music program at York University and currently works as a music teacher at Elite Music Academy on the Danforth. In addition to teaching she is also a performer in and around Toronto with her most recent accomplishments being a gold medallist and a silver medallist at the Kiwanis Festival.
A believer in the importance of helping others, Gigi also volunteers with running a youth group at St. Clement’s Anglican Church.
Desmond Mok
Desmond is another student training under Sifu Kin Sze at Bamboo Kung Fu School and client of Personal Trainer Toronto. Aside from being a proud practitioner of Choy Lee Fut style Kung Fu, he is also a third year student of the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) as an Illustration major.
By participating in this year’s Oxfam Trailwalker he hopes to sharpen his physical training, as well as provide a service back to the community.
He also dreams of graduating one day.
Salman Rana
Salman is a student of Choi Lay Fut Kung Fu under the tutelage of Sifu Kin Sze and a member of Team Bamboo Kung Fu in this year’s Oxfam Trailwalker 2010. Salman is an artist-activist-scholar and graduate student in law. He will be commencing doctoral studies in law this September at McGill University. Additionally, Salman is an active member of Toronto’s Hip Hop community and founding member of the Circle artist collective which includes Kardinal Offishall, Saukrates, Jully Black and others.
As a lawyer, Salman practiced in the areas of international human rights and children’s rights.
Bamboo Kung Fu 2
Sergio Chavez
Sergio is student of Martial Arts and has been learning Choy Lay Fut under Sifu Kin Sze for almost two years. Sergio was born in El Salvador and witnessed firsthand the hardships that come from living in poverty or under corrupt governments. That is why he is participating in the second annual Oxfam Trailwalker Canada with Team Bamboo Kung Fu.
Sergio has lived in Toronto for 15 years. Working in the lighting and staging industry for Television, Rock and Roll and Corporate events. Among his most notable shows are So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and The Much Music Video Awards.
Christopher Dell
Christopher Dell is a musician with 20 years experience in the music industry. His songs have been featured in many films and TV shows. He is an avid fan of Kung Fu films and currently practices kung fu with Bamboo Kung Fu in downtown Toronto.
By participating in the Oxfam challenge, Christopher hopes to bring to attention the situations of those less fortunate who, on daily basis, have to hike great distances to access the most basic needs; food, water and medical aid, that we take for granted in a society like ours in Toronto. Through work ethics gained from kung fu training, he believes the impossible is possible through hard work.
Steve Dion
Steven Dion has been avidly dreaming of training in Kung Fu for over 30 years. The time to dream is over as Steven has finally joined Bamboo Kung Fu to train under Sifu Kin Sze.
Steven is an Industrial Safety Trainer who spends his days trying to make a difference in Workers’ attitudes towards their own safety. This career can easily be translated into an effort to increase public awareness of the struggles endured by poverty-stricken people less fortunate than ourselves. Having seen first-hand as a child the challenges that come with having less available resources, I firmly believe we should help others less fortunate if, and when, we are able.
I am participating in Oxfam’s second Trailwalker in Canada because, when we work as a team, anything is possible. Awareness is the key and so let’s be frontrunners in the race to fight poverty! Every little bit makes a difference.
Kin Sze
Kin Sze is the founder and lead instructor of Personal Trainer Toronto and Bamboo Kung Fu School. He will be hiking 100km in 48 hours challenge in the Oxfam Trailwalker Canada 2010. As a certified personal trainer, Kin Sze strongly believes that teamwork has a place in resolving many of current global issues, including poverty. Oxfam’s 100 km hike in 48 hours challenge epitomizes the power of teamwork at tackling issues at various levels.
