Squashing for a Greater Cause

Squashing for a Greater Cause

Those who participate in any form of sport will undoubtedly concede that it holds a special place in their lives: the joy, exhilaration and comraderie that exist as a by-product of sport is undeniable. So when a sport like squash provides so many life benefits to players across the board, is there a way of giving back?

Recently, the emergence of various initiatives to use sport as a means of highlighting socially-driven causes, tells me that it is in fact possible to give back. And the possibilities are endless…

In the past year, I have already attended two events that ran WISPA events alongside fundraisers to raise money for cancer: the LA Open (in June) and the Elbow River Casino Open (in September). In the latter event that just wrapped up a few weeks ago in Calgary, our women volunteered some of their time to play against the club members- the deal was that every point conceded by members equalled a dollar that went into the breast cancer fund. In less than 3 hours, the women helped raise a whopping $3500 for a great cause.

Even more recently, the MetroSquash fundraiser in Chicago that has brought in some of the top players in the world, and has set up a glass court in the stunning Chicago Field Museum of Natural History, underscores some of the highly inventive ways of raising money and awareness for good causes through the game of squash.

The Metrosquash Urban Squash Fundraiser in Chicago. Photo © 2007 Debra Tessier

On a different level, the “Squashbusters” establishment (an after-school “youth enrichment program”) which started in Boston in 1996 and has now spread to Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Baltimore, has brought the power of squash to a whole other level. Working with urban children from underprivileged backgrounds, these groups have not only helped raise the confidence and self-esteem of youth through the game of squash, but they have also enabled academic opportunities to study at top schools that would never have presented themselves without the existence of these programs. Having personally visited CitySquash in the Bronx, and seen the spirited nature of the kids in these programs, it was clear to me that there is no lack of talent (on the court and in the classroom); these organizations shine a spotlight on gifted children, and provide the necessary tools and opportunities for ensuring that these talented young people reach their highest potential. And yet, when I spoke to those running the programs, I was struck by their expressions about the reciprocal benefits of the job: they were learning and gaining just as much from the kids as the kids were from them. There were clear rewards from both ends.

Finally, on a macro level, various organizations have started to recognize the natural ease with which sport coincides with greater teachings on respect, awareness, discipline, self-esteem and teamwork, and the ability to use play as a means of developing healthy psyches among youth. Right to Play, for example, is an international organization that works with youth in various countries, from Mozambique to Lebanon to Sri Lanka, in order to transmit the values of sport to other important facets of life that challenge youth in these countries on an everyday basis: health, nutrition, relationships, etc.

Similarly, a Canadian organization that I have recently joined, called Athletes for Africa, was started in November 2003 by Adrian Bradbury, who wanted to use the high-profile nature of sport to bring awareness to various development causes in Africa. Among the campaigns that A4A supports, GuluWalk- a campaign to raise money and awareness for the children of northern Uganda, who are among the worst-hit victims of war in this country- is one that lies close to Bradbury’s heart. Every day (for 31 consecutive days) in 2005, he and a friend walked 12.5 kilometres into downtown Toronto (after a full day’s work) and slept in front of City Hall, before walking back home at sunrise, in order to raise awareness for the “night commuters”* in northern Uganda. From this arose a worldwide movement and annual march that includes 80 cities in 15 countries.

As Bradbury himself notes, “sport stirs emotion and gives us hope; sport can teach us about life, and its lessons can make us better people. Sport also has the power to use its voice to make a difference well beyond the field of play”. Using sport as a means of effecting positive change does not necessarily entail going to the extremes that Bradbury did; in fact, opportunities lie around every corner, if you look for them; whether you are using sport to bring attention to social or health-related causes, merging athletics and academics, using the profile of sport to raise awareness in far-off places, or even coaching or helping out a fellow player to raise his/her level of squash, there are countless ways of being creative and giving back, whether at a small or large scale.

For a sport like squash that evokes such joy and passion, it should come as no surprise that a growing number of people are mobilizing in greater numbers to share the wonderful benefits of sport with others; it is no surprise, but it is a welcome addition to the world of squash in specific, and a true testament to the power of sport in general.

*If you would like to find out more about this phenomenon please visit www.guluwalk.com. For information on Athletes for Africa, visit www.athletesforafrica.com

If you would like to make a donation to the GuluWalk campaign, feel free to visit my homepage at https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/StartUp.aspx?SID=1600675