Among the teams is Vancouver Island\u2019s View Royal Vipers 09, a U-17 B softball team.<\/p>\n
Head coach Aaron Mercer says he couldn\u2019t be more proud of his team.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re a remarkable group of athletes,\u201d he told CHEK. But it goes far beyond their athletic skills.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur team motto is to spread love, so we really want to impact this group of young athletes, and make a difference for a nation that is experiencing a lot of adversity back home,\u201d Mercer said.<\/p>\n
The decision to fundraise for Team Ukraine came about this spring when Mercer and his team had an idea to contact a few international teams and plan a meet-up during the cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe originally reached out to them via Google translate to see about the potential of us joining them on field for a practice, after hearing that the international division was something to behold,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mercer contacted Team Ukraine\u2019s head coach and learned they may not be able to afford to come this year due to logistics and costs.<\/p>\n
Story continues.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6e635029-2f79-469f-8393-30312b93a5d1.jpg\")
Pictured here: The Ukrainian national softball team following the Softball European Championship in 2024. (Provided by Aaron Mercer).<\/p>\n
\u201cFor example, the entire team had to train in Poland in order to fly out of Europe,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mercer and his View Royal team then agreed to put the rest of the season\u2019s fundraising efforts to bringing the Ukrainian team over for the cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the support of local businesses like Lumberworld, Victoria Kids Childcare, and Bottle Depot Return-It centre, and a very successful barbeque and bottle drive, we raised enough to bring this team to Canada,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On May 17, the team held a BBQ and collected bottles to raise funds at Lumberworld. It also posted a GoFundMe<\/a> page with a goal of raising $6,000. Through the collective efforts, the team has raised more than $5,100 for Team Ukraine.<\/p>\n Over the years, the View Royal Vipers have donated to a range of causes and organizations, including the local SPCA, Wild Arc and BC Children\u2019s Hospital, raising funds for sick kids in the community. They\u2019ve also supported the Surfrider Foundation with beach clean-up days.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe team\u2019s fundraising efforts raised over $5,000, which went directly to the Team Ukraine\u2019s transportation costs, and was the difference they needed in order to come,\u201d said Mercer.<\/p>\n This is not the first time Canadians have pitched in to bring the national team over the event. Back in 2023, Canada Cup organizers helped bring the Ukrainian team over to the competition.<\/p>\n