Reaching out to those in need

trevor.kenney — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:40:40 +0000

It may seem like a small gesture but ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's soccer players have discovered that it can make a world of difference – they need only look at the smiles.

An innocent act of recognizing need has turned into an annual program of giving for the club, resulting in Horns soccer gear making its way around the world.

"Three years ago, one of our players, Cal Campbell, was going to do volunteer work in Thailand," says men's head coach Randy Bardock. "He made some comments about the underprivileged areas he visited and how they had none of some of the most basic things we take for granted. So we got the guys together and packed up a bunch of gear that either didn't fit, or we had no use for anymore, and sent it off to Thailand."

It wasn't long before they received photos from these communities of children proudly wearing their Horns paraphernalia, broad smiles adorning their faces in appreciation.

"We've just kind of carried that on since then," says Bardock.

Children from a community in Nepal proudly display their Pronghorns men's soccer gear.

Former Pronghorn player Mike O'Brien (BSc '10) was the next to take the Horns' message abroad, traveling to Arusha, Tanzania for two months where he volunteered at a local hospital. This past summer, team trainer Dave Hall took shirts, shorts, cleats, runners and a variety of other soccer-related items to Nepal.

"I think it's important for the guys to realize how fortunate we really are here in Canada, and this is a way to drive that message home," says Bardock. "What we consider as old or out of style, these people cherish as valuables."

The philosophy of engaging with the community and contributing by giving back is something that the men's program has practiced for years.

"For as long as I've been involved we've tried to give back to the community through sponsoring schools and sponsoring a family at Christmas – this was another way to make a difference," says Bardock. "I think when the guys see the pictures come back, it really makes them more aware of just what is going on around the world. Sometimes we get so focused on our own issues, we tend to forget that there are a lot of people in much more challenging situations than we face."

A brand new shirt is a treasure in any size.

As rewarding as it is for the children who receive the gifts, the program also reaps rewards back home.

"The three individuals who have done it, the feeling they had when they saw these kids getting the gear, I think it was something that made a life-changing impression on them," says Bardock.

O'Brien concurs, saying it had a real impact on his perspective on life.

"It really gave me a better appreciation for the opportunities we have here in Canada and the opportunity I have to go to ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," he says. "It also re-affirmed my desire to go to medical school and become a doctor."

Bardock says that the program will continue to look for ways to push the ideal of community engagement going forward.

"If guys have opportunities to volunteer somewhere and do the same sort of thing, we'll definitely encourage them to take advantage of those," he says. "The experiences you gain from that are incredible, and something you won't get from a classroom."

This story first appeared in the December 2011 issue of the Legend. If you'd like to see the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Juggling the role of a student-athlete

trevor.kenney — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:50:25 +0000

When Mike O'Brien says he's planning on going to medical school next year, you can all but consider it a certainty – that's just the way he gets things done.
A soon-to-be-graduating (he finishes school in December and will convocate in the spring) senior fullback from the Pronghorns men's soccer program, O'Brien has made a habit of setting goals and steadfastly achieving them.

A walk-on candidate for the soccer team in his first year, he introduced himself to head coach Randy Bardock over e-mail and was only assured he'd get an opportunity to try out when he arrived. Five years later, O'Brien finished his career as a team captain, a second-team conference all-star and the highest scoring fullback in program history.

His academic career at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ followed a similar path. For two years he put up good, if not outstanding, grades while combining soccer and studies. Since then, with an eye on a future in medicine, O'Brien dedicated himself to improving his academic standing. The result was consecutive selections as an Academic All-Canadian (a third is in the offing) and the Canada West Student-Athlete of the Year nod for 2009.

"It is a point of pride that I am able to be an Academic All-Canadian because there are very few athletes in general who get that honour," says O'Brien, a 22-year-old Calgary, Alta. native.

"Maturity has been the biggest change. Moving away from home for the first time, there are so many distractions and I definitely took advantage of those in my first two years. I had a B and B+ average, which isn't horrible, but it's not good enough to get into medical school.

"I realized I needed to change my academic habits. It wasn't really until my third year when I started to improve. Maturity and learning from my past mistakes were the biggest differences."

A biological science major, O'Brien has already applied to attend medical school upon graduation next spring. This past summer, he immersed himself in the medical field, spending two months as a volunteer in Arusha, Tanzania, with the Volunteer Abroad organization.

"It was an amazing experience," says O'Brien. "I was able to help in an HIV/AIDS clinic, work in a lab and maternal health clinic and observe major surgical procedures first hand."

He says the work he did only steeled his resolve to become a doctor.
"It reaffirmed my desire to go to medical school but more than that, it made me want to do something more, perhaps as a doctor, to further help people in developing countries," he says.

"Being in Tanzania really gave me an appreciation of the opportunities I have here in Canada, like being able to go to university, and I really want to make the most of that."

At home, O'Brien is similarly charitable, working part-time as a community worker for people with disabilities as part of the Southern Alberta Community Living Association.

"I've worked there since the summer of 2007," says O'Brien. "It's something that has given me a great appreciation for what I have and has further encouraged me to pursue medicine as a career."

A true student-athlete in every sense, O'Brien has made the most of his U of L experience. He finds it hard to believe five years have passed since he walked on to the old soccer field a virtual unknown.

"I was pretty surprised initially when I even made the team and from there, I just worked on improving, gradually earned more playing time and then a starting spot," O'Brien says. "It amazes me that five years are over now and I'm getting ready to leave."

He'll go as a mature, confident graduate that is sure to represent the best the U of L has to offer.

UNews - Arusha

Reaching out to those in need

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Juggling the role of a student-athlete

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