Last Friday was the perfect fall night for a soccer game.
The Bighorns, consisting of students from Risley Hall, Shirreff Hall and Eliza Ritchie Hall, won the Residence Charity Kick-Off 4-3 over the Trojans (students from Howe Hall, Mini-Rez, Gerard Hall and O’Brien Hall).
The event, which raised over $2,500, is the first of three sports matchups held throughout the year by Dalhousie ResLife to raise money for the IWK Foundation.
“We see the IWK everyday as it is close to us on campus,” says student organizer Kelsey Mooney. “By raising money for the IWK, this event gets the Dalhousie community involved in the greater Halifax community.”
About 400 students, decked out in red or orange regalia and painted faces, sat through the breezy sweater weather to cheer on their teams, rising occasionally to do the wave. Some even put on team-coloured hats adorned with holiday lights, jumping up and down as their teams scored, clutching onto their neon bright posters.
“It’s cool that we get to play, have fun and promote the community within our residence,” said second-year student Mackenzie Meens, who played for the Bighorns. “It gets everyone in residence involved, as those who don’t play on the soccer team participate by taking part in the spirit squad, creating posters, team chants and selling T-shirts.”
This was the seventh year for the Residence Charity Kick-Off.
“It started out as a student idea, and students decided which charity their fundraising went to,” explains Sarah Reddy, a ResLife manager.
Last year’s charity sports events raised $16,000, and organizers of the events are optimistic they will do even better this year. The next event is the Residence Charity Tip-Off Basketball Game, scheduled for November.
