On Wednesday, August 13, the boys in Blue and White made their third annual visit to Camp Goodtimes during teen week.
Sam Adekugbe, Christian Dean, David Ousted, Mehdi Ballouchy, Ethen Sampson, Omar Salgado, Russell Teibert, Erik Hurtado, Carlyle Mitchell, and Jordan Harvey, along with Whitecaps FC club ambassador Carl Valentine, mascot Spike, and Whitecaps FC executives, were adopted into the cabins with the 48 teen campers.
The ‘Caps spent the afternoon participating in a variety of events with the campers, including a friendly soccer match, bracelet making, performances in Dragon’s Den-style skits, and group cabin photos. Many smiles and laughs were shared during the fun-filled afternoon, with many of the ‘Caps players showing their creative and silly personalities. It's an annual tradition that Whitecaps FC players are eager to attend; so much so that the size of the group increases significantly each year. And every year, it never fails to be an incredibly special day for all involved.
Camp Goodtimes is an internationally acclaimed and accredited summer recreation program, run in association with the Canadian Cancer Society, which provides a unique summer experience for children and teens with cancer and their families. Set in the scenic landscape of Loon Lake in Maple Ridge, Camp Goodtimes provides a safety-focused, fun, recreational program at no cost to participants.
The campers experience adventure, take on challenges, form lasting friendships and unforgettable memories in a safe and medically supervised environment away from the stresses of the city. Many children and teens are empowered by the time they spend at camp, and their families are renewed by a week without the stress of coping with cancer.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC have been a long-standing community partner with Canadian Cancer Society and Camp Goodtimes. The ‘Caps will be hosting members and campers from Camp Goodtimes at the match this Wednesday at BC Place.
Be sure to keep an eye out for the campers to say hello, and stop by Section 213 on the concourse at BC Place to learn more about camp. 'Caps fans will also have the opportunity to round up their merchandise purchases to the nearest dollar at the match, with proceeds benefiting Camp Goodtimes.
