The Thunder Lake Boxing Club, one of the Gray Grass Youth Programs, is for boys and girls up to age 18. Through our joint fundraising efforts the kids have been able to travel to tournaments throughout South Dakota and neighboring states. The boxers have won several championships. We are currently seeking cash or in-kind donations to cover travel and participation expenses and items for the kids to raffle off for fundraising.
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Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who supported the 500-mile Sacred Hoop Prayer Run and for enabling us to do the necessary groundwork to document this beautiful event and coordinate efforts with several organizations on Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations to plan for our upcoming youth programs.
We raised enough money to help cover the costs of the 500 Mile Sacred Hoop Run, purchase camping equipment for the youth, sponsor meals for the runners, and cover necessary expenses for the Run. We spent 6 busy days following the runners on their 500 mile journey around the Black Hills, a journey that took them to numerous sacred sites in South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. The youth spent long days, in triple digit heat, running and carrying the sacred staff which carried the prayers for all the people. Each day began and ended in a prayer circle and runners camped every night in locations that had sacred and historical significance. The run passed through many places where historical tragedies had taken place and the prayers were focused to bring healing to these sites.
Even though many generations have now suffered the devastating effects of colonization, the traditional Lakota ways hold the wisdom needed to address the issues reservation youth are so challenged by. Those who are working to revitalize the traditions are creating effective solutions for the youth and need to be supported. The film will highlight these efforts and the urgent need for them.
Sacred Hoop 500 Mile Prayer Run
We are collecting donations for the Sacred Hoop 500 Mile Prayer Run!
The 500 mile Sacred Hoop Prayer Run serves over 150 Lakota Youth. The kids run a 5 day, 500 mile relay from the sacred Black Hills to Nebraska and back again. Along the way the kids participate in ceremony, prayer and teachings. The run is based on the Creation story of the Black Hills and the youth run in prayer for causes including: suicide, teen pregnancy, gang violence, sobriety, treaty rights, cancer, diabetes and for the suffering of the people.
Leaders teach the youth to turn to their traditions instead of drugs, alcohol, and death.
We are seeking cash and in-kind donations. Follow us on FaceBook for daily updates: https://www.facebook.com/Mitakupi
ThunderLake Boxing Club
We are seeking sponsors for the 2011-2012 ThunderLake Boxing Club.
The ThunderLake Boxing Club is one of the Gray Grass Youth Programs. Rick Gray Grass, a community and spiritual leader, has dedicated his life to serving the youth and teens on Pine Ridge. He is on the front lines creating opportunities to help kids have something to live for.
Rick not only helps kids find ways to endure the ravaging effects of poverty and oppression, but more so to overcome them. He mentors youth and works with boys and girls of all ages. He creates ongoing opportunities for them to get involved in their native traditions and has created several youth sports programs to help them learn discipline, increased self esteem and give them something to focus on and look forward to.
His flagship program, the ThunderLake boxing club, is currently in need of support. We are seeking cash donations to fund tournament travel and participation expenses and we are seeking items to raffle so the kids can be active in the fundraising activities.