Kids give to City Mission

SPORTING HAND: Wanganui City Mission community liaison Shirley Spooner accepted about 40 gifts for local children which were donated by the Wanganui New Zealand Jiu Jitsu Academy, including director Shanon Casson, Lisa Ciora and Shodan Casson. PHOTO/ BEVAN CONLEY 221214WCBRCCITY01

JIU jitsu transcends sport and teaches students about community, says a Wanganui Jiu jitsu instructor.

And his group has put that into practice, helping make Christmas a more enjoyable day for local children.

New Zealand Jiu Jitsu Academy Wanganui director Shanon Casson challenged his junior students to look through their pre-loved belongings, or buy something to give to children in need this Christmas.

"For those kids that don't have a Christmas and are going to be missing out. Everybody needs Christmas," Casson said.

"For us it's about making sure our students are aware of our part in the community."

His students responded to the call and club has amassed about 40 presents, sorted into age and gender appropriateness. These were handed over to the City Mission yesterday. Casson said there was a holistic element to Jiu Jitsu and giving back to the community was something his students were used to.

The club has about 40 members and runs age-group classes from 5-year-olds to adults.

City Mission community liaison Shirley Spooner said they would be given to children at a community Christmas lunch.

"It's fantastic," she said. "People are really generous and we really see it at this time of the year."