Canadian Athletes Continue to Lead by Example

When you pull in a cool couple million dollars plus per year in salary and sponsorship, like many professional athletes do, it’s relatively easy to share the wealth. But despite the fact that many of Canada’s high performance amateur athletes live well below the poverty line for most of their athletic careers, they continue to lead by example and give back. Time is as valuable as money. The presence of an Olympian at an event can most certainly create excitement and encourage others to give more of their time and hopefully even their money to a worthy cause.

For example, in a few days time, a group of approximately 40 national team and Olympic athletes will be donating their time and fund-raising efforts to the United Way of Canada, by taking part in the Enbridge CN Tower Climb in downtown Toronto. Joining 2008 Olympic high jumper and 2010 Commonwealth Games champion Nicole Forrester on the 1776 grueling steps to the top will be Olympic champion kayaker Adam van Koeverden, Olympic silver medalist bobsledder Shelley-Ann Brown, and Paralympic cross-country skier Tyler Mosher, to name just a few.

Another charity that benefits significantly from an Olympic presence are the Ronald McDonald House’s across the country, who are often visited by World figure skating champion Patrick Chan, Olympic champion hockey player Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Olympic silver medalist diver Alexandre Despatie.

Canadian-based Right to Play is an international humanitarian organization that utilizes athletes to serve as global ambassadors who go into some of the most disadvantaged regions of the planet to improve health, foster peace for children and develop life skills through sport and play programs.

These are just a few shining examples of how Canadian athletes continue to lead by example, in so many facets of life.

For more information on sports related charities, please visit SIRC.

West Ottawa Soccer U14 Girls Heading to Nicaragua - July 4-13

Six local youth and their support team are off to Nicaragua this week to complete a project for SchoolBOX, a Canadian charity whose mission is to make education possible for those who can’t afford it. The team is part of the West Ottawa Soccer Club (WOSC), which is an organization that encourages its athletes to give back to their community. During their ten day stay, they will be helping to build a school as well as engaging the local youth in some soccer games.

Dina Bell-Laroche who is the team coach, a community leader and a veteran of five Olympic games, believes that this kind of experience makes good athletes, great leaders.

The club has been doing its own fundraising by organizing the 5km True Sport 4 SchoolBOX charity run last year through which they managed to raise more than $1700 in pledges. The club was also a part of the Amazing People Gala, which is a local event that highlights extraordinary accomplishments from ordinary people. It was here that they received a $7000 scholarship with over $50,000 raised for the SchoolBOX project.

The six local athletes are Kathleen Carson, Priya Nagpal, Tiffany Ingram, Gabriele Donnelly, Jessica Aiello and Talia Laroche. The support team includes Peter Donnelly, Lynn Aiello, Karri Dawson, John Carson and Dina Bell-Laroche. Eric Collard, co-chair of the Amazing People Gala will also be joining the team on their travels.

Bell-Laroche is passionate about this project and with giving back - "Sport is more than just a game. Sport can teach life lessons off the playing field that can build self esteem, empowering people to set a goal and achieve it, and believe in something that is larger than them. I'm so proud of the accomplishments of these young athletes and the leadership they are demonstrating to support a community thousands of miles away."

For more information you can visit www.schoolbox.ca.