The tragic murder of his daughter spurred Roger Kemp and his wife to action.
Ali Kemp was 19 years old in 2004 when she was raped and murdered in Leawood, a Kansas City suburb.
“That’s why we do this program,” Kemp said. “We don’t want it to happen to anybody else.”
The Kemps helped facilitate the creation of a self-defense program for females from middle-school age to “a 90-year-old grandmother,” he said.
The Ali Kemp Education Foundation, T.A.K.E., is coming to Fort Scott Middle School on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to noon.
Jill and Bob Leiker are the chief instructors for the class.
“Bob was formerly in law enforcement,” Kemp said. “Bob has been into prisons and interviewed several predators to find out what they look for.”
Since its inception, the T.A.K.E. program has seen 68,000 people go through the self-defense class nationwide, Kemp said.
Kim Schwab, an administrative assistant at the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center, is currently taking registrations for the class.
She can be reached at the jail by calling 620-223-1440 or stopping by the center, located at 293 E. 20th in Fort Scott, for an application. Alternatively, one can access the application on the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center Facebook page.
“Sheriff Bill Martin directed me to the T.A.K.E. class,” Schwab said. “It is one-hour of education and the second-hour to learn the moves you need to get away (from an attacker).”
A donation of $12 is requested, but not required.
Sponsors for the class are being sought by the Sheriff’s office.