Get ready for Pizza That Packs a Punch.
That’s the name of a campaign by twins Kat and Karissa Strain to raise awareness and funds for their Soul Strong program. The twins led the first four-week program in May. Participants learned boxing basics and at the end received a bag, gloves, a jump rope, water bottle and hand wraps so they could continue training if they wished.
Created for local girls aged 13 to 16, the goal of Soul Strong is to encourage confidence, self-esteem, body positivity and female empowerment.
According to Kat Strain, the program was well received, with many girls on the waitlist to take part in future Soul Strong sessions.
To that end, the Strains are reprising a role they had as teenagers. During the time when they were acting as doubles for Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Mike and Mark Demore, the owners of Little Caesars Pizza in Chatham, allowed the girls to host a “Free Ice Cream Friday.” Local girls would come into the shop, meet the Strains and discuss their experience.
Now the Demores are allowing Kat and Karissa to do it again by holding two Pizza that Packs a Punch events on Aug. 16 and Sept. 6. A portion of the funds raising will go towards supporting the next Soul Strong boxing program.
“We are hopeful the community will also see the importance of encouraging young women to pursue sport for building confidence and healthy young women,” said the Strains in a media release. “We hope people will come and enjoy a family pizza night to help give more ladies the chance to benefit from our program.”
