Spirit of the Game
Sixteen months after being formed, the Spirit of the Game is more successful than the organization’s board of directors could ever have imagined and is ready to provide financial assistance to dozens of local youngsters and their families.
“Things have turned out better than I could ever have imagined just over 15 months after we formally announced the creation of Spirit of the Game,” said Mike Campol, the chair of the board of directors. “The amount of community and business support we’ve received has just been incredible and much more than I ever expected.
“We didn’t have to tear the community apart looking for support. We had stakeholders approach us and tell us that they wanted to be involved and they wanted to lend support. It has truly been incredible.”
Spirit of the Game is all about “investing in young dreams” by providing financial assistance to youngsters and their families so boys and girls in Osoyoos and Oliver can participate in minor sports and other recreational activities such as dance classes and school road trips.
Spirit of the Game has already been able to assist 15 families from Osoyoos and Oliver and is formally accepting applications from other families seeking assistance, said Campol.
The board of directors is also working closely with elementary and secondary schools in both communities to ensure students know about Spirit of the Game, he said.
“We’ve helped 15 families by helping them financially to join hockey, dance classes and school activities,” he said. “There is no reason any child in either community should not be able to play hockey or go on a school field trip because of any financial issue.
“That’s what Spirit of the Game is all about … lending a helping hand so no child is left out because of money or the lack of money.”
Key sponsors for the Spirit of the Game since its formation last June include H.W. McLean Construction Ltd, the Osoyoos Credit Union, Nk’ Mip RV Resort and Campground and the Osoyoos Coyotes hockey club, said Campol.
Spirit of the Game is sponsoring the upcoming visit to Osoyoos by former NHL star and Stanley Cup winner Ryan Walter, who will be giving a motivational speech about his hockey career and life after hockey at the Sonora Community Centre the evening of October 23.
Tickets for that event are $45 and include dinner and a ticket to the Osoyoos Coyotes home game set for the following evening on October 24.
Campol is a good friend of former Vancouver Canucks star Gino Odjick, who came to Osoyoos and lent a helping hand to get Spirit of the Game launched last summer.
Odjick was recently diagnosed with a fatal degenerative brain disease and remains hospitalized back near his home in Quebec.
Campol said everyone involved with Spirit of the Game is praying for Odjick to somehow make a miraculous recovery from his dire health problems.
“We haven’t forgotten Gino and what he did to help us get Spirit of the Game off the ground,” he said. “He’s a very good friend of mine and I have tried to stay in touch with him and let him know that everyone in Osoyoos is pulling for him.”
Campol is hoping Spirit of the Game will be able to assist dozens more youngsters in Osoyoos and Oliver in the coming year.
“We never expected to be able to have enough funds put away to help this many kids and their families so soon after starting up,” he said. “But we have the money in place now to help families and we encourage them to file an application online.”
There are several businesses in town who are committed to providing further financial assistance to Spirit of the Game in the coming months and he’s very confident that dozens of area youngsters are going to be playing sports and participating in fun activities because of their support.
“We’ve had a great first year and the future looks very bright,” he said.
If you want to file an application for assistance from Spirit of the Game or require more information, visit www.sotgsociety.com.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
