High school football programs use crowdfunding to purchase equipment

Two long-time high school football programs have had to rely on crowdfunding to help pay for new equipment.

Both the Ursuline Lancers and Wallaceburg Tartans have set up GoFundMe appeals, to raise money in the last week.

The Ursuline Lancers football program has launched a GoFundMe drive to help pay for 20 new helmets and 30 shoulder pads

Ursuline head coach Scott Morkin, head coach of the Lancers’ football team, said online that things have changed regarding equipment. He said every two years a football helmet now needs to be recertified. Every 10 years a helmet now needs to be replaced, which is a tremendous cost to schools and is certainly a financial obstacle for their program and football going forward.

Ursuline is coming off a successful football season, winning the SWOSSAA regional championship and advancing to the OFSAA provincials.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Pines GoFundMe had raised $2,356 of their $16,000 goal.

The Wallaceburg Tartans also set up a GoFundMe campaign, and raised $15,000 in a span of just over 24 hours. The Tartans had a goal to raise $10,000.

The Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame also pledged $2,000 to help the Tartans purchase new helmets.