The Durham Lords varsity auction is live for March, raising money to support student athletes.
The online auction aims to ease the pressures student athletes face while balancing academics and sport.
This year, the goal is to raise $5,000 to go towards awards that reduce financial barriers, as well as training opportunities, specialized equipment and health and wellness resources.
All items in the auction have been donated, with more than 70 available for bidding. The auction is open to students and the community, offering a variety of unique items.
Zach Ellis, the sports information and marketing coordinator for the Durham Lords, said money raised will go directly to student athletes.
“So all the proceeds either go towards the Ken Babcock Scholarship Award, which again benefits our student athletes or goes directly to our team accounts,” he says.
Keiran Popela, a member of the rugby team, said the scholarship helps cover costs athletes may otherwise struggle to afford.
“The bursary provides athletes with the ability to afford those extra things that they may need in their sport,” he said. “It allows for students who may be struggling with financial circumstances to not necessarily need to rely on going into debt to acquire these things, to play the sport or to do the activity that they love to do.”
The auction features a wide range of items, from gift cards and Durham Lords merchandise to experiences like training sessions with different teams.
“We have some really cool things right now,” Ellis said.
Among the most popular items are a two-night stay at any InnVest Hotel in the country, Toronto Maple Leaf tickets and a handcrafted Lord’s sign.
“One of our athletes, Chelsea Oke, her dad handcrafted a large sign that it’d be great for, you know, a basement or garage or something like that,” Ellis said. “So, we do have a wide variety of things that people can bid on.”
For many athletes, financial support is essential in helping them manage the demands of school and sport.
Popela said that many student athletes don’t “have that ability that you can go out and get a job and work because you’re needed at the field or you’re needed at the school.”
He added there are additional costs that many people don’t expect.
“There is a $250 fee that we have to pay on top of our tuition. This is an external fee that doesn’t necessarily come out of, let’s say, if we were taking OSAP or we’re receiving financial aid,” he said.
Popela said the auction also brings the community together in support of student athletes.
“I think the Lords auction is an amazing place for you not just to support a team or support a specific cause you’re about, but support Lords Nation as a whole,” he says.
The auction closes March 31, giving students and the community a limited time to place their bids. Visit the Lord’s Instagram or Facebook page for the auction link.