RAISING MONEY FOR MS
Canadian women’s soccer team star Christine Sinclair autographs a soccer ball for Gabriella Dufresne during an initiative by A&W to raise money for multiple sclerosis research in Dollard-des-Ormeaux on Aug. 24.
JOHN MEAGHER
Christine Sinclair is Canada’s ambassador to soccer.
The Burnaby, B.C., native has scored 168 goals in international play and captained Canada to back-to-back Olympic bronzemedal finishes.
But now the 34-year-old Olympic star is embarking on a new challenge to help find cure for multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease that has afflicted her mother, Sandi.
Last week, she visited Dollarddes-Ormeaux in her “Burgers to Beat MS” campaign with A&W and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.
Sinclair spoke to the Montreal Gazette about the scourge of MS and how she has tried be a positive role model for young athletes in this country.
Q How did you become involved in the fight to find a cure for MS?
A So my mom is one of those Canadians living with MS. She was diagnosed when she was pregnant with my brother. So it was 36 years ago now. Obviously, just as a kid growing with a parent with MS, it’s definitely life-changing. Your parents are heroes when you’re growing up. You think they are indestructible. (My mom) was an athletic person. She ran track in high school and played soccer and coached my soccer team. To see that taken away from someone who, even now, is as mentally sharp as ever. It’s a debilitating disease. It just physically takes its toll on an individual. Now she’s in a wheelchair. It’s very difficult to see someone you care so much about go through that.
Q You’ve pretty much grown up with someone with this disease.
A Absolutely. (My mom’s) had it my entire life. It wasn’t until I was 11 or 12, somewhere in there, where they finally sat me down and explained that your mom has MS. At that point, you could sort of start to see it taking a toll physically on her. Her gate stiffened. I remember we were at our cabin one summer and all of a sudden she couldn’t water ski. It was just little things like that as a kid you notice.
Q How did you get involved in this initiative?
A For me, it started last year. I did an event with the MS chapter in B.C. It was life-changing for me because my entire life as a soccer player I’ve been very private. I’ve kept my family and personal life to myself. It was definitely stepping outside my comfort zone. And like I said, it was life-changing to be around these people and the amazing work they do. In that moment, I decided I wanted to become more involved in any way I could.
Q Was it hard for you to step out of your own shadow to play a public role in an effort to find a cure?
A Yeah, it’s been difficult. My job has brought me interviews and things like that. I play soccer for a living, but to step outside of that and have a voice for another cause was difficult, especially one that is so close to my heart. Most importantly, I didn’t want my mom to feel ashamed or embarrassed, or anything like that. So we had a conversation about this and she was either going to completely support me or tell me to zip it. But she said she’s never been more proud.
Q Why step up now?
A With where my career is at, I’m comfortable with my soccer and what is in store for that. Just the attention women’s soccer has been given these past couple of years, and me finally coming to terms with this, it seemed like the perfect time. It seemed like my voice might carry some weight. I think most importantly though is me coming to terms with this with my mom. And it happened.
Q Your mom coached you as youngster. What did you learn from her?
A She claims she taught me everything (she laughs). For me, as a kid, all I remember was having so much fun playing soccer and all different sports. My parents never forced me or my brother into anything we didn’t want to do. With her as coach, it was just about having fun. I still do to this day.
Q What athletic goals do you still hope to accomplish?
A The goal is to win something big, either a World Cup or an Olympic gold medal. That’s the one thing that’s missing.