Soccer team kicks for charity

Halifax County United Soccer Club’s (HCU) Under 12 Girls team is learning more than just how to win a soccer match —together they are raising money for Make-A-Wish Atlantic Provinces.

Long-time HCU volunteers and the team’s coaches, Rob Naylor and Geoff Baker, initiated a training program for the team that sees the players earn donation money for successfully using a soccer skill that they have been working on in practice during a game situation.

“Our club is about teaching soccer skills and developing great players but we’re also interested in promoting life skills along the way,” said Naylor. “We are dedicated to expanding this focus and giving back to the community in which our players live, practice and play.”

Under the guidance of board president, Andrea Thompson, HCU has recently launched a two year pilot program that focuses resources on giving back to the community and broadening the scope of the traditional role that HCU has played in the community. Over the first part of season the HCU U12 players were able to raise $593 through the Kicks for Charity and a corporate matching program. The team hopes to raise that much again by August when the season ends.

“Every dollar helps, but more importantly it is fantastic that this group of 12 year olds know and care that Make-A-Wish Atlantic Provinces changes lives of sick and terminally ill children who often do not have a the privilege of running and kicking a soccer ball,” said Tracy Durkee-Jones, chief executive officer, Make-A-Wish Atlantic Provinces. “We were delighted that the team had the opportunity to connect to the mission during a recent post-game pizza party with a presentation from Bianca Roberts, one of our former wish children.”