Minor sports play a huge role in the lives of many children in communities the world over. It is a place to play a sport you love, meet friends, and, most importantly, have fun.
However, for some families, signing their children up for a minor sport is just not financially possible.
That’s where the Kidsport program comes in. Kidsport raises and donates money so that kids, regardless of finances, can participate in a minor sport.
“We put out roughly $8,000 to between 60 and 80 kids each year. Last year in Alberta, there was $1.3 million handed out to over 6,000 kids,” said Dave Watson, chair of the Drumheller Kidsport program. “It helps a lot of families.”
In Drumheller, Kidsport gives roughly $300 per child per year to area families. The amount can be used to sign up kids for minor sports.
However, the program does consider activities that aren’t necessarily minor sports. In the past Kidsport has helped out with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and sending kids to Cubs, Scouts, Brownies, swimming lessons, dance class, and a couple hockey and basketball camps.
“It’s not a huge amount of money for each family, but we help a lot of families,” said Watson. “It’s based on a family’s income. We try to get the money to those who need it most.”
In the near future, Watson hopes Kidsport can also help give kids in need access to the town’s cutting edge fitness and recreation facility.
“We are looking into how we can be associated and work with the Badlands Community Facility. It’s in the works this fall,” said Watson.
Kidsport is in need of board members to help out with the worthy cause.
Anyone interested in the program, joining the board, or donating, but who can’t attend the expo, can contact Watson at 403-820-4100.
“As long as we get kids out and get them physical, we’ve hit our goal,” said Watson.
The Drumheller Kidsport program hopes to partner with the Badlands Community Facility so that all children can enjoy what the new fitness facility has to offer. Kidsport is continuing its efforts to help children and families afford participating in minor sports. Last year the program handed out roughly $8,000 to families in the area, with roughly $300 to each.
