Meet our team

The Faces of the Heroes Circle

Our global team works together to help heal pain and trauma for children around the world.

Rabbi

Elimelech Goldberg (Rabbi G)

Founder and Global Director

Kids Kicking Cancer began in the summer of 1999 when Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg created a pilot program at Children’s Hospital of Michigan (CHM) to demonstrate the power of therapeutic martial arts. Rabbi G., as the children affectionately refer to him, is a first-degree black belt in Choi Kwang Do, as well as a clinical assistant professor in pediatrics at the Wayne State University School of Medicine.

Executive Team

Martin Bluth
Martin Bluth, MD, PhD

Global Medical Director

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Cindy Cohen
Cindy Cohen, MS, CCLS

Global Program Director

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Kristen Cometto-Russ
Kristen Cometto-Russ

Chief Strategy Officer

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Richard Plowden
Richard Plowden

Chief Martial Artist

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Marc Cohen
Marc Cohen

Chief Financial Officer

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International Leadership

Michele Kaplan-Green
Michele Kaplan-Green

Heroes Circle Israel

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Jill Osborne
Jill Osborne

Heroes Circle Canada

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Giancarlo Bagnulo
Giancarlo Bagnulo

Heroes Circle Italy

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Moses Sebopa
Moses Sebopa

Heroes Circle South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia

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Amanda Mandie
Amanda Mandie, OAM

Heroes Circle Australia

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Help more children find

Power. Peace. Purpose.

Despite the ongoing challenges of the global pandemic, we are committed to empowering one million children to reduce their pain and stress with the help of our evidence-based martial arts therapy.