On a very sunny day this past June, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment took over the parking lots surrounding BMO Field for the 2013 MLSE Team Up Challenge. It was a day of fun and competition – all in the name of a great cause, Camp Trillium.

Camp Trillium is a charitable organization that helps Ontario families with children who are battling cancer. Each year it runs camps to give these brave kids the opportunity to engage in recreational activities, with the hope that it helps in the healing process and enhances their quality of life.

Committed to the Community

Ford Canada was proud to sponsor the Team Up Challenge, which saw close to 1,100 people participate in the fundraising.

“The (challenge) is another example of how Ford and the Toronto Ford Dealers are committed to the community,” said Nick Lacasse, Ford Canada Marketing Manager.  “This event allows us to go out and help organize a day of sporting events with our partners at MLSE and while doing so, help give children living with cancer and their families the opportunity to attend Camp Trillium to enjoy recreational activities and have fun together.”

The Spirit of Competition

Ball hockey was a popular draw at the event.

The days’ events consisted of three sports: ball hockey, basketball and soccer. Each was played in a 3-on-3 format – with the exception of a goalie on the ball hockey court – and allowed for substitutions of team members so that everyone was involved in each match. Soccer players got an extra thrill, as those games were played on portions of BMO Field, home of the Toronto FC.

The 84 teams enjoyed themselves with plenty of great uniforms, cheering and team spirit displayed throughout the day. It was also exciting to see the interaction with some of the MLSE athletes who were on-hand, including former Maple Leafs captain Wendel Clark and Canadian NBA star Jamaal Magloire. The top 30 fundraising teams were given the opportunity to draft one of the MLSE celebrity athletes to join their team.

Special Thanks

A special thank you goes out to all the participants, in addition to the amazing staff and volunteers who made the day possible by keeping all of the teams on schedule and pointing everyone in the right direction. Without their hard work and dedication, the MLSE Team Up Challenge would not have been a success.

In the end, the event had one goal: raise money for Camp Trillium. And that goal was met in spades. We can’t wait for the 2014 MLSE Team Up Challenge so we can do it all over again!