Boston traceurs plan parkour charity event for cancer research

Parkour is about finding the quickest way to your destination.

Photo by Stuart Bryce

Traceurs from all over New England are planning to get together for a parkour jam for charity in Charlestown, MA. This three-day fundraising event will be the first of its kind in the Boston area and it is happening during the second weekend in August. The money raised will be donated to the American Cancer Society for cancer research and treatment.

Parkour, for those who are not familiar with it, refers to the practice and sport of getting from one place to another quickly and efficiently. Also called l'art du deplacement (the art of movement), parkour might take the form of a simple hop over an obstacle, or it might mean running up a wall or swinging from a bar to get around that obstacle.

Parkour practitioners (called traceurs) often rely on athletic ability, spatial awareness, and balance. And though parkour is not necessarily a "circus art," it is sometimes called urban gymnastics or street tumbling because it uses many of the same acrobatic movements used in gymnastics as well as circus arts.

A parkour “jam” is when traceurs get together to practice their skills and/or teach new skills to others. The American Cancer Society benefit jam going on this August 13-15 was organized by members of New England Parkour, an online community where traceurs from all over New England can discuss parkour, their training, and upcoming jams.

The idea behind the jam is that traceurs will be able to gather, teach parkour skills to each other, and raise money. All of the participants have been asked to print out a pledge form and seek out donors. Friday, August 13th will be the first day of the event and it is scheduled to begin at noon and run until 8pm. The jam will then continue on Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 8pm.

The jam will take place at the Baby Pool in the Charlestown Navy Yard, which is a favorite spot for Boston traceurs to host jams. If you are interested in joining me and the other New England traceurs at the event in August, you can find more info on the official event website. There is also an event page on the New England Parkour website as well as on Facebook.

Hope to see you there!

You Want More? More info about the Charity Parkour Jam can be found on The Road Less Traveled.

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