A group of pickleball players in the capital city is hoping to raise enough money to put dozens of kids through local sports programs.

Members of the King of the Court Sunday Pickleball League initially challenged each other to raise $5,000 for young people at the McSheffrey Resource Centre.

They surpassed that goal within a week, and are now looking to raise $10-thousand to put 30-40 kids through sports programs.

League member Kevin Casey says he saw the need firsthand after volunteering at the centre, noting that many of these kids are getting to play organized sports for the very first time.

“So I was able to convince my other seven guys who are part of this King of the Court competition. I said ‘guys, this place really changed me.’ I met a lot of kids who are incredible and I think they saw how much it meant to me,” he told VOCM News. “We were very specific where the money went. It was going towards enrollment and programs so they were no longer on the sidelines. It could be hockey, soccer, basketball, or martial arts.”

The executive director of the McSheffrey Resource Centre, Jim Crockwell, says families are coming to the site almost daily looking to get their children involved in sports..

“But as they go into the fall, like all parents are looking to get their children put in sport programs, some groups that run sport programs right out of here, outside groups, we’re able to get them sponsored in that,” Crockwell said. “We will see that in the fall, and get a lot of contact from parents who are looking to see if we can help put their child in some kind of a recreation, leisure, or sport activity.”

Anyone looking to donate can do so by visiting kingsforkids.com