Parts Advisor Mark Kicks Off Karate Fundraiser for Cancer Research
Mark Stevens, Parts Advisor at Lloyd Cockermouth and karate Sensei, is hosting a fundraising event with students of his Karate club, Cumbria Coast Karate!
On Thursday 24th October, Mark and more than 40 other participants will be completing a karate challenge to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
When he’s not helping our customers with their vehicle parts, Mark is the Head Instructor of Cumbria Coast Karate, which has venues across West Cumbria including Ennerdale, Harrington, Lamplugh and Lorton. Cumbria Coast Karate is near its tenth-year anniversary and currently has an approximate student base of seventy to eighty members, with Sensei Mark and his experienced team overseeing all of the dojos.
Read on to find out more about Mark and the fundraiser below, and tap the button to donate to this fantastic cause.
Hi Mark, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your role as a Parts Advisor at Lloyd Cockermouth?
"Hi, I’m Mark Stevens, I’m 40 years old and I am one of the three Parts Advisors based at Lloyd Cockermouth. My role, like many parts advisors, is to provide parts to the workshop, the trade and directly to the customer. One thing I like about being in parts is that no two days are the same and that you’re always being challenged in various ways".
When did you first get interested in Karate and what drew you to it?
"I started Wado Karate when I was 18 in Whitehaven. My best friend Darren encouraged me to go and try it. I was hooked from the very first lesson, and have never looked back. The one thing I enjoy with karate is the exploration of body movement and ways you can do minimum effort with maximum force".
Can you share your journey from first starting Karate to becoming a Sensei?
"After training for 12 years, I got my first Dan (a measure of advanced rank) when I was 30. I founded my club, Cumbria Coast Karate, with 4 students in March 2017 and like that very first lesson, I have never looked back. I now have five dojos with over 100 students. I won the Active Cumbria Coach of the year back in 2021 for my services and devotion to my students during lockdown, which I am extremely proud of. Now I look to the future of our organisation, expanding the knowledge and continuing the traditions that were passed to me by my Senseis over the years".
How has Karate influenced your life outside the dojo? Are there any lessons from Karate that you apply to your work as a Parts Advisor?
"Karate teaches you a lot of things that I use in everyday life. It teaches you the importance of having respect, having goals to work towards, being polite and courteous and having patience. It’s the small things that shape the bigger picture".
What inspired you to organize this charity fundraising event for Cancer Research?
"We run an event every year for charity. This year we have decided to do the 100 kata challenge to coincide with Karate Day in Japan. We also wanted to raise money for a very worthy charity, because I think that everyone somewhere along the line has been affected by cancer either directly or indirectly".
Can you tell us more about the event? What can participants expect?
"The event is happening on Thursday 24th October at the Harrington Scout Hut from 6pm. I’m hoping to have between 40/50 participants taking part at the event. We will be doing 100 repetitions of a fight sequence called Pinan Nidan which translates to ‘Peaceful Mind Level 2".
Good luck with the challenge, Mark!
If you’d like to donate to this brilliant cause, tap the button below.
.jpg?height=466.50717703349284&heightratio=0.777511961722488&mode=crop&upscale=true&width=600)
