Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge some exceptional female athletes from Winnipeg who recently joined together to support a very special cause. The Winnipeg Blue girls' soccer team made up of elite athletes from different Winnipeg soccer clubs won silver at the Manitoba Summer Games.
What is most exceptional about these girls is that while competing together, they learned that one of the moms, Monique Ditter, had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. Monique is their teammate Jazi's mom and their coach Jaret's wife. She is also my good friend. Even though the players originally came from rival clubs, they banded together to show their support for Monique by playing their soccer games sporting pink hair, pink shoelaces, and pink arm bands.
The girls, aged 10 to 12, also signed up for this Sunday's CIBC Run for the Cure, and have raised more than $4,000.
I ask the House to join me in applauding the care and compassion shown by these young girls, as well as their sportsmanship and camaraderie. Let them be our inspiration to go out and join the CIBC Run for the Cure this Sunday across the country.