First Kick Cancer event in Bolton raises $25,000

Charmaine Hooper, a member of Canada's national women's team, took time to sign autographs Sunday at the first Kick Cancer soccer match.

Saturday, July 22, the community of Caledon rallied together to support the first annual Kick Cancer event.

Teams of players rotated through the 24-hour soccer game in an effort to raise money for the oncology department at the new Brampton Civic Hospital. The support and spirit of this rural community and neighbouring areas was clearly evident through the donations, sponsorships,

prizes and volunteers time, all given generously to help make the event a success.

Kick Cancer was the vision of Dave Babcock, after his wife Jackie was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. Working with a dedicated committee of four members Tanis Mallow, Tim Sinclair, Rob Brunette and John Hughes Kick Cancer evolved over the past winter and became a reality Saturday morning in Caledon.

The game began promptly at noon at the beautiful Caledon Soccer Complex on Old Church Road. Skye Sweetnam, the 19-year-old singing sensation from Bolton, opened the event by singing O Canada. The first shift of players, aged 10-14 years, enthusiastically began the game. Each player was assigned to a team sponsored by Accu Plus Dental Laboratories and Brannon Steel.

Caledon singing sensation Skye Sweetnam, performed the national anthem to open the soccer game.

Successive teams of children, men, women, families and friends rotated every two hours until noon Sunday, July 23 when the final whistle was blown.

There was much laughter and camaraderie on the field as goals were scored, offsides were called and throw-ins completed, all in the name of fighting a disease that has touched so many lives.

Second Cup, Bolton, helped to rejuvenate players throughout the entire event with their coffee, teas and smoothies the coffee was greatly appreciated during the wee hours of Sunday morning, helping to keep determined players alert and moving on the field. The beer garden and donations from Powerade provided some much needed thirst quenchers while Airport Pizza kept everyone supplied with delicious pizza.

A visit from Charmaine Hooper of the Canadian Women's National Soccer team Sunday morning gave encouragement to those who had spent many hours on the field. She was very gracious in signing autographs and posing for pictures with budding soccer stars.

These are some of the tired but excited participants of the 24-hour Kick Cancer event.

As fresh bodies rotated in for the final two-hour shift, you could feel the energy and excitement on the field as we neared the end of this journey of hope.

The countdown to 12 noon Sunday brought cheers from the players on the field as well as from the many spectators on the sidelines. It was an emotional ending to a very physically challenging, yet rewarding event that brought this soccer loving community together in the name of a worthwhile cause.

Through the generosity of this community, $25,000 was raised and will be donated to the oncology department at Brampton Civic Hospital.

The committee of Kick Cancer 2006 would like to take this opportunity to thank the many players, volunteers and local companies who gave so generously. Special thanks to our sponsors Brannon Steel, Accu Plus Dental Laboratories, Cavalier Transport, APPS Transport, Powerade, Airport Pizza, OPXellence Inc., BTR Graphics and Second Cup in Bolton.

Organizers are pleased to say that Dave's wife Jackie "kicked" cancer last year. Hopefully, with the continued support of the community, many others will also be survivors.

Organizers look forward to making this an annual event in Caledon as we all continue in the fight to "Kick Cancer."

For more information on Kick Cancer 2007 or to become a corporate sponsor, please visit www.kickcancer.ca.