Inspired by a recent sport-outreach trip to Paraguay (South America) Keyano College’s Huskies Athletics Coordinator & Women’s Soccer Coach, Mark Oxer (Fort McMurray, AB) is on a mission to do something that has not been done before, he is going to coach SHOELESS.

On Saturday, September 12th, Coach Oxer will lead his team in their opening weekend of the 2009-2010 ACAC Season and coach an entire soccer match against King’s University College in his bare feet to raise awareness for his SHOELESS initiative.

Partnering with Athletes in Action, Oxer is igniting the recognition of global poverty where it intersects the world of sport—at the “sole” level. In honor of and conjunction with the 19th World Cup in South Africa, in June, Mark’s goal is to collect 19000 pairs of shoes to give to people who aren’t fortunate enough to have footwear.
 “Soccer is a huge part of the culture in many impoverished communities,  yet they play on dirt fields, with rocks and sticks for goals, soccer balls  that I would take to the dump, and without shoes at all: It’s the purest form  of the game being played and it tells me there is more to life than sports  the way I’ve come to know them. It’s my turn to give back.”

The timing of the trip will mean the forfeiture of Coach Oxer’s prime team recruiting period, which, in his perspective, just adds more potency to his message:
 “While it’s important to me to win soccer games, I want the young women  I coach, and the fans that cheer for us to realize there are more important  things than money, recruitment, and winning games. There are kids out  there who need shoes, and this is a unique opportunity for people to  realize that, in life, giving back is one of the most powerful things.”

Oxer is hoping to draw attention to his cause in order to gain sponsorship and donations to the SHOELESS campaign. To that end, he’s challenging the entire Keyano College student body, and all those in the region of Wood Buffalo to join him by filling the bleachers of the September 12th game in their bare feet! It’s a bit of a brave “feat” in Northern Alberta temperatures, but Mark hopes that a little discomfort will go a long way. As any true Husky knows…History Starts Now!

For more information on the barefoot match, or the SHOELESS campaign, please contact, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 1-780-792-2699