Students go to work for Spanish excursion
Barcelona on agenda for week-long trip for Fort Liard soccer players
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, March 2, 2017
ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD
With just one month to go, soccer students in Fort Liard are packing their bags for the trip of a lifetime.
Chase Berreault, left, joins Tyrone Berreault and Leona Berreault at one of the concession stands during a fundraiser for a trip to Spain. - NNSL file photo
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For a year and a half, 12 students have spent their free time raising money through movie nights, bingos, food sales and other fundraising initiatives.
Their goal was to raise more than $50,000 to cover the cost of flights and tours through Barcelona and Madrid.
Now, all that hard work is paying off.
Sarah Hammond, the soccer coach in Fort Liard, will be accompanying all 12 students, along with Ollie Williams, for the trip. The students will be taking a bus from Fort Liard to Edmonton on March 22 and flying to Madrid on March 23.
They will return from Barcelona on March 31, driving back from Edmonton to Fort Liard on April 1.
Hammond said the students will take daily tours around Madrid and Barcelona, visiting art galleries, churches, memorials and other attractions. They will also be touring soccer stadiums while in Spain.
They also plan to take in a Segunda division soccer match between Getafe CF and Lugo on March 26.
"This is an opportunity for students to see what the world has to offer them. I have really tried to encourage them to take the plunge to travel and feel confident on their own," Hammond said.
"I know that the efforts taken to fundraise have given them the idea that they can work hard to accomplish anything."
Aside from giving the youth a sense of independence and accomplishment, Hammond said she hopes that overall the experience will give them the drive to make positive life choices.
"I want them to conquer their fear of leaving home and going into the unknown, and see how great of a feeling it can be," she said.
"These kids live, eat and breathe soccer, and I know that seeing where some of their idols live and play soccer will be something they never forget."
Students raised approximately $25,000 on their own, with another $30,000 coming in from the Hamlet of Fort Liard, Echo Dene School, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Acho Dene Koe Band corporate groups and Fort Liard Community Justice.
"These kids have surpassed any expectations I have had (when we) started this project. They have shown incredible dedication to (fundraising) events and I often have too many volunteers," Hammond said.
"These events have really given them purpose, and they can say that they accomplished this amazing goal together."
