Will Cook County News

By WCCN Staff Writer – Updated 8/12/24 at 12:32 P.M.

UFC Gym Orland Park, located at 66 Orland Square Drive, hosted the UFC fighter’s affiliated organization, Team Palestine for Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), last Sunday, Jan. 7, for all women in a two-hour self-defense course. 

The nonprofit organization supports and operates international volunteer medical teams in public hospitals in Palestine. They supply free specialized care for sick and injured children lacking medical care assistance.

The event invited all women of the Chicagoland community to support Gaza relief with a registration fee of $25, with all proceeds directed to Gaza relief. MMA Fighters Kevin Nowacyzk and Alberto Rodriguez, martial artist Valarie Sanchez, and MMA guru Louis Taylor, alongside number two ranked Welterweight Belal Muhammad, assembled a dream team experience for participants. 

Women who participated introduced themselves and shared why they attended. Rahan Hasan, an Orland Park resident, participated in the seminar to be among like-minded people. “I wanted to be around a community of women with conviction and for my money to be used towards something good,” said Hasan. 

UFC Gym Orland Park’s trainer Robert Martinez wished for all the women attending the event to feel a sense of “power” and “safety,” Martinez added, “I hope all of these wonderful women feel a sense of confidence and know the help and good they should feel for just registering, that alone has created an impact.”  

PCRF volunteer member and pharmacist April Bitner helped set up a little Palestine merchandise station for interested participants to purchase. “It’s incredible to see the community come together for such an imperative cause; all these donations will help aid so many sick children of Gaza,” said Bitner. 

For further inquiries about volunteering or donating, please visit PCRF’s Instagram handle here. 

On Saturday, July 27, 2024, Belal Muhammad (24-3-0) defeated Leon Edwards (22-4-0 in a Welterweight match-up to become the first Palestinian to win any UFC Championship.

On Sunday, August 11, 2024, Belal Muhammad celebrated with the Bridgeview community; about his UFC championship win. Article linked here.