Westwood kids can now spike with confidence
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
December 10, 2008
GUELPH, Ontario — It all started at the first practice of Westwood Public Schools’ newly formed Intermediate Boys Volleyball Team. Grade 5 teacher and coach Pat Sproat noticed that many of the boys had worn out runners – some with soles as smooth as slippers. She was worried that they would not be able to stop, turn, jump or pivot safely on the gym floor. As a mom herself knowing how quickly boys’ feet grow, and how hard they are on their shoes, an idea was hatching in her mind.
Pat is a runner and triathlete who knows a number of Guelph athletes who change their shoes every season. She wondered; what do they do with those “gently used” shoes? She asked a friend who urged her to run with her idea and ask those men to donate their shoes to her team. With one email to a man who is a member of the Guelph Victors Running Club and the Guelph Triathalon Club, and an email from him to his extensive mailing list, the word spread rapidly.
It took very little time for men and women to respond. One man bought two new pairs of Nikes™, another took the shoes right off his feet, and a Toronto football team donated three pairs of freshly washed shoes. Shoes started arriving at the school and at Pat’s home. Collections were dropped off by the garbage bag full.
Forty-five pairs of shoes later, her entire team was wearing gently used shoes. Thanks to the generosity of strangers, she was able to outfit most of the girls’ team, too. Extra shoes are being distributed to other children at Westwood who are in need of a decent pair of gym shoes. The volleyball teams were excited that people they didn’t even know would do this for them. And on top of that, they had very sweet shoes!
It was an early Christmas for Westwood’s hard working young athletes. Pat says she is overwhelmed by the kindness of so many people, most of whom she does not know. As a big believer in the generosity of others, Pat got her Christmas wish answered too.
On Thursday December 8, Pat’s team competed in the final tournament of the season. The Westwood Public School Intermediate Boys’ Team took all comers and won their division! Congratulations to all.
Pat Sproat teaches grade 5 at Guelph’s Westwood Public School and has been at the school for more than 22 years. She is very committed to the Westwood community, is a runner and triathlete, and loves to coach Junior (grade 4-6) and Intermediate (grades 7-8) sports.
For more information:
Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer, 519.822.4420 ext. 725, [email protected]
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