The City of Surrey is donating up to $5,000 to help bring Team Ukraine’s U19 girls softball team to play in the Canada Cup this July.
At the council meeting Monday night, Surrey Coun. Gordon Hepner noted the international women’s softball championship is trying to raise enough money to “allow the Ukrainian girls softball team to participate.”
“I move that we contribute $5,000 from the council initiative fund in order to assist those efforts and show those girls that the spirit of sport unites us, and that we’d very much like their participation in the Canada Cup,” Hepner said, noting the City should notify Canada Cup chair Greg Timm, should the motion be approved.
His motion was seconded by Coun. Mike Bose, with many on council voicing their support.
READ ALSO: Fundraising drive launched to bring Team Ukraine to Canada Cup in South Surrey
“I echo my colleagues – this is the opportune time to show who we are… I’m all for it,” said Coun. Rob Stutt.
Bose suggested challenging neighbouring communities to also help, with Mayor Brenda Locke thanking Hepner for bringing the motion forward.
“If we can help them in any way that would be awesome.”
The motion carried unanimously.
“The motion, which was enthusiastically supported by all of council, ensures that the fundraising goal to bring Team Ukraine to the Canada Cup in Surrey will be achieved,” Locke said in a Tuesday release.
The Canada Cup Women’s International Softball Championship will bring more than 1,500 athletes to South Surrey’s Softball City July 7-16, including the Canadian national team.
Hepner said his motion was “just a gesture of our support to the sporting community and specifically, to the young ladies caught in a horrible predicament and war zone.
“It would be great to help provide the chance for them to have some semblance of normalcy,” he said.
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tricia.weel@peacearchnews.com
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