Doreen Rice and Gina Olsen from Vancouver Island will be travelling to Turin, Italy, next summer for the World Masters Games as part of the North American Native Sisters softball team.
The team will compete in the 45-plus Masters category and there are players on the First Nations team from sa国际传媒, Alberta and Ontario. The other sa国际传媒 players are Molly Toodlican, Josie Fortier, Stacie Coutlee, Laura Antoine and Lori Johnston.
The games are held every four years for athletes who are 35 years old and older.
"As older, mature native women, we'd like to not only be positive role models and leaders in sports to our youth but also demonstrate our culture and tenacity on the world stage,'' said Claire Sault-Heath in a news release. Sault-Heath is helping to arrange the trip and she is also a pitcher on the team.
"We'd like to leave a positive impression about our culture and the contribution we make to North America and leave a very proud impression of sa国际传媒.''
The team will be kicking off their fundraising efforts on Thursday with a salmon barbecue at the Lau, Welnew Tribal School (7449 West Saanich Road, Brentwood Bay). The dinner of salmon, salads and corn will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. The cost is $10 per person and children 10-years-old and younger will be $5.
To contribute to the team or a particular player log onto: nativesistersfastpitch.org
