Sensei Pete Saunders, 4th Dan, instructor at the Dover Karate Club, was recently awarded the National Kindness Award.
This is awarded to adults who have demonstrated an exceptional level of kindness during the 2023/24 school year.
Below is the text read out by the mother of a young pupil Sensei Pete Saunders was mentoring:
"Pete Saunders is the Caretaker of Guston and is also the karate teacher running classes every week for the pupils of Guston.
My daughter is 9 years old and she has developmental coordination disorder. She sadly lost her Dad in June 2023 and has been suffering with her mental health. Her confidence and self-esteem is extremely low. Pete has shown incredible kindness and support to her. In addition to the weekly lessons, Mr Saunders spends 15 minutes every day in school with her to practice karate, build her confidence which allows her to calm, breathe and be ready for the day. As she has anxiety attacks most days before school. This is what saves her, it brings her to focus and function for the school day.
The impact Mr Saunders has had on my daughter's mental health is beyond words. When she cannot focus, when we cannot get her into school without an anxiety attack, Mr Saunders is there, encouraging, supporting and giving her 15 minutes a day that shows her she is capable, she is of worth. He has changed our lives! If she did not have her karate and in particular, a leader like Mr Saunders that goes above and beyond for the students, I don't know where we would be. Mr Saunders spends a school karate group session teaching the children, showing kindness and promotes anti-bullying.
I can't thank him enough and my words will never explain enough what he has done for us as a family.
Thank you!"
Washinkai Karate congratulates Pete on his well deserved award! This is exactly the type of approach which reflects the high standards expected of our instructors.
Well done Pete!
#guston #doverkarate #washinkaikarate #nationalkindnessaward #schoolofkindness
