KARATE OFFERED FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS

Pictured Left to Right: Jennifer Pierce, COO; Haeley Shaffer; Lisa Mowry, CEO; Marissa Collett, Domestic Violence Assistance Program Manager.

When Haeley Shaffer, a senior at Brooke High School, began working on her Senior Honors’ project she came up with an idea that would not only equip the staff and students of Brooke county with a valuable lesson but one that would also help local victims of domestic violence. Shaffer is a second degree black belt of the Chuck Norris System which she earned at her family’s karate studio, Shaffer Top Form Karate. She hosted a series of self-defense seminars teaching adults and children how to survive and escape attack situations safely. Classes taught things like defenses to attack, grabs, chokes and pushes. The kid’s classes focused on the prevention of bullying. Proceeds raised from classes were donated to CHANGE, Inc.’s Domestic Violence Awareness Center (DVAC) and Lighthouse Domestic Violence Shelter. DVAC provides advocacy for the residents of Brooke and Hancock County on issues resulting from domestic violence while the Lighthouse seeks to provide protection, intervention and support to victims of domestic violence.

Haeley plans to attend West Liberty University in the fall, majoring in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Zoology.