Bruce Campbell
Sports editor
A new Okotoks organization wants kids to have the chance to play,
not be spectators from the sidelines.
KidSport Okotoks, an
organization dedicated to financially helping families register
their children in sports programs, is hosting a fund-raising street
hockey tournament on Nov. 24 at the former Guardian Drug store
parking lot on Elizabeth Street.
KidSport is an organization
which will pay up to $250 per child for his or her registration into
an organized sport, ranging from lacrosse to karate.
“KidSport
is a national program started in B.C. in 1995,” said Nick Ruigrok,
president of KidSport Okotoks.
“Okotoks had previously been run
out of KidSport Calgary, who have done a wonderful job. But for the
past few years, the numbers in Okotoks have gone down, not because
there isn’t as much need, but I think because there is not enough
communication about the program.”
In 2005, there were 32 Okotoks
children registered through KidSport, 31 in 2006 and, right now in
2007, 17 children.
“Our objective for the next year is to
support approximately 40 local children through our program,”
Ruigrok said. “As we are just getting started, we are looking for
additional funds to support the project.”
He said he got the idea
of starting an Okotoks chapter when, as a hockey coach last year, he
had a player on his team who had his siblings come and watch because
the family couldn’t afford the fees for the other children.
“Fortunately, thanks to a generous donor, we were able to get
the other kids registered in minor hockey,” Ruigrok said.
Every
two weeks, the KidSport Okotoks board plans to study applications
for funding.
He added as Okotoks is a smaller community than
Calgary; the local board has more flexibility on who is eligible,
rather than just a hard-and-fast figure such as the poverty line
number.
KidSport Okotoks’ goal is to get the children (anyone
under the age of 18) registered into an organized sport of their
choice — as long as the funds go to a recognized sport program or
club.
The $250 registration would go directly to the
association.
He added he is also hoping in the future to collect
sports equipment, which could be donated to children who need them.
“I’m building a shed out at my place, ” Ruigrok said with a
chuckle. “I’m hoping we can store the stuff out there.”
For
information about KidSport Okotoks or the street hockey tournament
call 831-PLAY (831-7529). |
