UOIT was victorious against DC in the sixth annual Charity Cup but the match was about more than soccer.
The event on April 4, took place at the Campus Fieldhouse and had some entertaining soccer, raffles, and prizes, with all proceeds going towards Their Opportunity.
Their Opportunity is a local non-profit organization that provides low-income families with the means to enroll their children in local sports programs. In return, the families have to give back with volunteer hours.
The program sponsors children of families whose total household income is less than $45,000 per year. All personal donations are handled in a way that 90 per cent of the money goes toward programming.
“Giving back to the community that gave us an opportunity is something that feels right,” said UOIT Ridgebacks player Erik Petrovic.
Four 20-minute games took place in the event, including two games between the UOIT and DC men’s and women’s teams.
“It was amazing to participate in the Charity Cup, the fact that I get to do something I love, to help children do what they love, really makes me feel grateful to play,” said Durham Lords’ player Marina Sgourakis.
The first of the women’s games ended 5-0 for UOIT and then 1-1 in the second game. The men’s games finished 0-0 and then DC clinched a 1-0 win but it wasn’t enough to win the Charity Cup.
UOIT won with six goals to DC’s two over the four games the clinch the Charity Cup, but the main purpose of the event was to raise money and awareness for young children trying to play sports.
