Every child should have the chance to be involved in sports.
And thanks to the recent KidSport Delta gala, many who were not financially able to participate will now get that opportunity.
With a little more than $90,000 raised by the close to 300 in attendance at the gala at Tsawwassen Springs, more grants will soon be in the hands of families in Delta.
“The gala was a huge success. This is an amazing community that supports so much,” said KidSport Delta chair Carlene Lewall.
KidSport was established by Sport BC in 1993 while KidSport Delta was formed in 2010 after a boost in sport from the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. It began giving out grants for sport registration fees in 2012.
Money is raised locally thanks to generous partners, sponsors and donors.
“The gala, which has happened now for three years, just keeps getting bigger and better,” said Lewall. “By April last year we had 16 applications. This year I’m at 64, so families are getting the message that KidSport is a viable financial option to get kids into sport.”
KidSport Delta believes financial challenges shouldn't prevent any child from playing sports.
“We want to get kids into sports. It keeps an active, healthy lifestyle,” said Lewall. “Whether it is organized sport or whether it is recreation, sport is just the means, so if they get in there and they like that sport there is more of a tendency to pick up a softball or a soccer ball and play after school or play with their friends because they have some skills.
“It’s sport skills that help life skills and we need that. If we have healthy and active kids we are going to have less problems with depression and mental health - it is a known fact. There is so much being spent on fixing problems – let’s get into the prevention mode. This is only one way, but it can be a big way.”
Lewall said in order to qualify for a KidSport grant, the sport must have a provincial organization, which would include soccer, baseball, football, gymnastics, hockey, swimming, basketball and more.
Application forms can be downloaded from www.kidsportcanada.ca/delta. Anyone can sponsor the child as it does not have to be the parent.
Financial records do not have to be submitted, only a signature by a financial adjudicator or a professional that knows the child and family.
“Most of us grew up playing sports and playing outside for hours, but it is a different culture. You just don’t see that anymore,” Lewall said. “I really believe in physical activity and sports is a means to getting that so the more kids we can get involved in sport, the better off our communities will be.”
For more information, email [email protected] or call 604-943-0469.
