Yellowknife (Feb 25/04) - When Graeme Shaw was asked to create an original painting for a local charity that helps kids play sports, he immediately thought of the hours of hockey he played as a child.

The result is an oil painting depicting a group of children playing Canada's favourite game in a distinctively Northern landscape.

KidSport hopes to raise $250,000 through the initiative, with Christmas cards and other merchandise branded with Shaw's image planned as well.

"I wanted to create the image of the joy of a kid playing," said Shaw.

The artist was at the Birchwood Gallery Friday for the launch of a new fundraising program by KidSport NWT. The branch of the national organization provides underprivileged kids with the opportunity to take part in sports programs.

Victor Mercredi, a long-time coach in Yellowknife, told the crowd on hand for the launch about the importance of sports in children's lives.

Mercredi recounted a story from his youth in Calgary about a coach who paid for his hockey school for two summers. Living in a family of eight children, Mercredi never knew his coach had footed the bill.

"As a kid, you just assume the money is going to be there," he said.

Concessions for kids who couldn't afford sports fees have been made as long as Mercredi has been coaching. Programs like KidSport take some of the burden off of sports organizations who have soaked up the losses, he said.

Only 50 canvas prints of the painting will be available to the public, at a cost of $5,000 each. Seven sponsors are currently supporting the program. They were each presented with a framed print.

In 2003, KidSport NWT helped 192 kids from 15 communities take part in sports programs.

The program started out in 2001 with just 19 kids on the list from five communities across the territory.