Liz Latulippe, a Grade 12 student at Chilliwack Secondary has expanded her wrestling program into a summer program, and is still looking for a few sponsors.
This year's summer program, running for one week in August, has already capped out at 42 students. That's double the number they had last year, and she's hoping to draw in a bit more financial support.
Her 14-week program is focused on teaching the fundamentals of wrestling while providing mentorship to students at schools on the north side of Chilliwack, including Bernard and Strathcona elementary schools. It culminated in a tournament where students proudly showcased their skills to their schools and families.
Latulippe said she was inspired to create this program after witnessing the confidence and connections built during her low-cost summer wrestling camp. Wanting to expand its impact, she developed funding proposals to the school district, which enabled the program to offer healthy food, coach training, and equipment transportation.
The Chilliwack Foundation sponsored the purchase of a wrestling mat and additional equipment, providing resources that support both her community program and the high school wrestling program. They continue to support this program, along with the School District 33 Wrestling Program, making funding available for any student who may not be able to afford the registration fee.
The summer camp includes lunch and snacks and runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"I run this camp below cost because our goal is to make finances not a barrier," she said. "If a child cannot afford the entry fee, we offer sponsorship so they can still participate. We use sponsorships to keep cost low and to provide resources such as food and camp t-shirts. I’m proud to say that we have doubled our entries from last year."
In addition to her community work, Latulippe has committed to wrestle for the University of Calgary, where she has been accepted into the biomedical program. For more information about sponsoring the program, email Elizabeth_Latulippe@outlook.com or call 604-791-0890.
