A random act of kindness movement, which began when a Drumheller man purchased a child’s bike as a way to give back to a family in the community, has sent a local hockey player to a hockey school in Stettler this week.
The movement has gone viral and Darian Dart, 12, has been given the opportunity to take part in the East Central Hockey School (ECHS).
Dart, who will start his first year of Bantam for the Drumheller Minor Hockey Association Raptors, said he was excited for the opportunity to learn and improve his skills at the camp.
His mom, Shannon, said she was in complete disbelief at first.
“I was thinking that Jason Hegberg with the East Central Hockey School had made a mistake,” she told The Mail.
She said she phoned the ECHS a couple of years ago to enquire about the school because Darian had started playing hockey late so she was trying to set him up in some camps.
“When Jason called I said, ‘I think you have made a mistake, I called you a couple years ago but I didn’t register Darian for this camp,” she said.
She explained that Hegberg then explained to her about Jamie Worman’s pay it forward movement and the selection process.
“I felt completely honoured to be nominated and lucky to be randomly chosen, especially since there are so many deserving boys and girls in Drumheller,” she said.
They have no idea who nominated Darian, but they would like to say thank you, she said.
She mentioned that Darian was a bit nervous about attending the camp because he knows they will push him and that he will learn a lot of good skills and improve on his skills by attending.
“He’s a little nervous but he’s not shy so I am sure he will meet a lot of kids and make lots of friends,” she said.
“Darian and I would both like to thank Jamie Worman for his pay it forward movement and East Central Hockey School for the generous donation. These guys exemplify the true character in the act of giving, and expecting nothing in return, so Darian and I both promise to pay it forward.”
The ECHS also donated an entry fee to the school for a hockey player from Stettler.