The Pointe-Saint-Charles Aces have been supplying children from low income families with football equipment and rides to games for over a decade.
But now, the van they’ve been using for 15 seasons has broken down and they’re asking for the public to help get them rolling again.
The goal is to raise $5,000 to buy a new van and replace the old uniforms.
For the Aces’ roster of 24 players, their weekly practices are a highlight.
“I really like the coaches and stuff, it’s pretty fun,” said William, one of the players in the Atom division.
“I get to tackle people especially this guy and this guy,” said defenceman Jordan Davies, as he pointed at his friends.
“Because I don’t have to say sorry,” Davis said laughing.
Coaches like Eddy Tibbo have been covering expenses so the kids can get to the games.
“We’ve had to pay for lifts, we’ve had to take them to bus and metro to away games,” Tibbo said.
“The south shore is particularly difficult with them and all their gear.”
For some of the kids, football is not only a game, it’s a lifesaver as most come from poor neighbourhoods around Pointe-Sainte-Charles, Saint-Henri and Ville-Emard and Little Burgundy.
“It means he’s not getting into trouble, he’s not running around being a hoodlum on the streets,” said Vanessa Higgins, the mother of one of the players in the team.
“A lot of children do not have the means to get to the games because a lot of them are far away, so some children do get left behind unfortunately,” said Tamara Brochu, a grandmother of one of the players.
The team has set up a GoFundMe campaign so no children get left behind.
“It would be amazing. I mean, just the stress of getting these kids to the games,” Tibbo said.
“We can’t tell them they can’t play because we don’t have a bus.”
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