 Announcement – “Build 2012” – Skateboarders to Build 3 Homes in Mexico
The Medicine Hat Skateboard Association (MHSA) is announcing that the group is partnering with Eagles Nest Ranch to send a team of 55 skateboarders to Mexico to build 3 homes for homeless families. The trip will take place during the Easter Break 2012.
It has been five years since the MHSA first travelled out of the country to Mexico to impact homeless families. In 2008 the group sent 45 skateboarders to Nigeria to drill water wells, lay the foundation of a hospital, and build a school.
The group was very active in the local community and in Canada doing community service and working on its goal to improve the image of skateboarding. The MHSA has continued this community involvement since the last two international trips. “I was a 13 year old kid when we first went to Mexico” said Curtis Windover, “now I’m a part of this trip as a leader. I’m pumped to be helping a whole new generation of skateboarders experience some of the amazing life experiences that I have been able to be part of. I saw real poverty and the excitement of the families when we were able to hand the keys to a new home. Plus I was able to skateboard in LA with some of my friends. Now I’m able to help make that experience a reality for some younger guys.”
Liam McPhail, 15 said that “as a kid that was part of this after school program called Skate Skool, I heard about my instructors who were going to Mexico and Nigeria to help people. Now I’m able to be part of a trip. I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a lot of work getting ready for this trip – team meetings, bottle drives, raising money – but I think it’s going to be worth it! I’m stoked”.
The Easter “Build 2012” trip is another step in the Associations goal to improve its image while impacting 3 families. 25 Medicine Hat skateboarders and leaders will join 15 skateboarders from the Edmonton Skateboard Assoc and 15 skateboarders from Calgary/Cochrane. “This 2012 trip is the coming together of two other Skateboard Associations. These Associations were modeled on the MHSA’s goals of building the image of skateboarding while at the same time encouraging young people to invest in their communities. I was able to be part of previous MHSA trips and now I’ve been able to take what I’ve learned in Medicine Hat to Edmonton. The ESA is looking forward to partnering with the MHSA on this trip”, said Stuart Young, founder of the Edmonton Skateboard Association.
The local team is departing from the Inland Skateboard Park on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 9:30am for a team retreat in Calgary.
For further details, please call Terence Kowalchuk
403-928-2181
www.medhatskate.com
medhatskate@gmail.com
MHSA 2012 Background Info
It was almost a year ago that the roof of the Central Neighbourhood Hub collapsed. This left a number of community groups including the MHSA without a place to carry out their activities. It meant that the local skateboard community lost its skateboard park as well as its office and meeting space. In spite of this setback, the MHSA has continued its goal of providing skateboard opportunities for its members and also to creating a positive environment for its members and improving the image of skateboarders. In 2011 the MHSA :
- Did a bottle drive raising $1000 for the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter – one week after the collapse of Central
- Organized an indoor competition at the Cypress Center where over 50 participants and hundreds of spectators enjoyed some of the best skateboard competitors in Western Canada compete in one of the largest winter indoor competitions in the country
- Continued its after school program called SkateSkool where a dozen teenagers teach children how to skateboard. This program was held at the outdoor park in the spring and in the fall of 2012
- Is moving forward with the goal of expanding the outdoor skateboard park. The City of Medicine Hat has supported this project with a $200,000 budget amendment and the MHSA’s CFEP grant application has been submitted.
- Members volunteered at the Halloween Haunted House
- Hosted Medicine Hat’s first ever skateboard video premiere at the Monarch
- Continues to meet regularly, engaging its members in the Associations ongoing endeavors
Note from Medicine Hat Women.com: If you want to join us in supporting this amazing organization, please download the press release and feel free to send it to whomever you think might be interested in providing support |
