Calgary Stampeders on their way to hangout with members of PALS

The Calgary Stampeders are headed into Strathmore on Thursday to play some football and hang out with some of the members of PALS (Physical Activity Leadership and Socializing).

Jimbob Geddes and his PALS buddy Geordie Praeker are huge Stampeders fans and were lucky enough to go to their fan forum that they had. "We really loved what direction the Calgary Stampeders are taking as far as community involvement. They're making fantastic things happen for all of Southern Alberta."

Geddes explained that he heard the Vice President of Business Operations Jay McNeil speak about community involvement and was prompted to go and see if they would be willing to come out and play with the members of PALS.

"I was so nervous but at the same time, me and Geordie said let's just go for it. We asked Jay when he would be willing to do this and he said, send me an email and we will make this happen and it's happening!"

Elite women's tackle football, Calgary Rage will also be joining in on the fun with PALS and the Stampeders. Erin Walton the quarterback for Calgary Rage will be coming along with two more teammates.

Geddes is hoping that doing this will lay a foundation for more activities like this to happen in the future. "It's just going to be so much fun because a bunch of us are football fans and some of us have no clue what the sport is. This is going to be hopefully, a great opportunity for them to become super excited about the Stampeders and the upcoming season." 

The members at PALS love to watch sports, as Geddes says they have a clubhouse where they watch all sorts of sports games together. "We will watch Flames games, we're transitioning into watching baseball Blue Jays games and as soon as the Stampeders start up, I'm pretty sure that we're going to be watching some Stampeder games, especially the road games, when we can't actually go there and be with them." 

PALS facilitator Michelle Bishop says they have been lucky enough to be able to do a bunch of activities like this in the past for their PALS members. "We have been fortunate enough to have lacrossing barriers come to us and we've played baseball with the Strathmore RCMP and firefighters. They love having new people to play with."

"If this is getting out to our FAIM family, you are more than welcome to come and participate. We're so blessed in Strathmore that our different community groups do invite one another to events. Geordie and I went and played soccer with our FAIM family, and we had so much fun." Geddes said

Bishop made the point of saying anyone is welcome to come to PALS, it runs on Thursdays from 1:30-2:00 and it's $10.  "We are looking for more friends to join us." 

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