A group of Canadian musicians is coming together to help send a London girl to the world karate championships in Ireland next month.
Helix lead vocalist Brian Vollmer, members of The Killer Dwarfs, Jake E. Lee's Red Dragon Cartel, ALIVE!, Buffalo Brothers, Syre, and Zed will perform a KISS tribute at the Eastside Bar and Grill on Hamilton Rd. on September 30. The concert is being held to raise funds to send 9-year-old Athena Papadatos to the World Karate Commission World Championships in Dublin, Ireland at the end of October.
The benefit was organized by Papadatos' father Spiro, who is a black belt and former musician.
"Originally it was just going to be a little jam night with some close friends and we asked this guy and that guy and they all said yes," said the elder Papadatos. "Suddenly it took on this life of its own and became this really huge special event in support of a great cause."
Papadatos earned her spot on the international stage earlier this year with karate wins at the provincial and national levels. She will compete in the girls ten and under point sparring and team sparring at the world championships.
"Last year, I placed third in the world. So this year I am really hoping to get first or second," said Papadatos. "I've been training every day, sometimes twice a day. You have to train every day to be successful."
A poster advertising the fundraising concert on September 30.
The young girl, whose love of karate began at age six, hopes to share her experience with her classmates when she returns from Dublin.
"When my classmates saw the poster that my dad made for the concert that has my picture on it they said 'Athena, you are so famous,'" laughed Papadatos. "I can't wait to tell them about worlds."
Her father believes the nine-year-old could be a great inspiration to other children and even some adults.
"In the summer Athena was in the dojo at least once or twice a day when other kids are outside playing with their friends or playing on their iPads or video games. She was training hard, plus participating in competition team practice and private lessons. In addition to training at John Marshall's Family Karate, she is also training at Adrenaline MMA. I am really proud of her work ethic, her positive attitude, and her will to win," said Spiro Papadatos. "She proves to me every day that anything is possible when you try."
In addition to raising money to cover the hefty price tag associated with participating in an international competition, 50 per cent of the proceeds from the concert will be donated to Kids Kicking Cancer -- a non-profit organization that provides weekly martial arts classes to sick children.
A group of kids from the program will take to the stage during the Sunday night show to perform a demonstration for the crowd.
"They will show some of the amazing things that we do in our program, some of the martial arts and self-defence skills that they have learned and some of the breathing exercises we teach them to help deal with their pain," said the older Papadatos.
Two-time Collingwood Elvis Festival Grand Champion and 2013 King of the World Champion Elvis Tribute Artist Tim "E" will be making a special appearance at the event.
Signed KISS guitar and drumhead. Submitted photo.
KISS guitarist and singer Paul Stanley has donated a guitar autographed by him and his band members, while Kiss drummer Eric Singer has donated a signed drumhead. Both items will be up for grabs in a silent auction being held throughout the fundraising concert. Papadatos will also be auctioning items from his own personal collection.
Other memorabilia being auctioned off includes signed items from Alice Cooper, Ace Frehley, The Tragically Hip, Burton Cummings, Whitesnake, Styx, Gowan, Helix, and The Killer Dwarfs.
Tickets for the show are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. They can be purchased at Eastside Bar and Grill. For more information about the show or for tickets click here.