Soccer league makes some fast moves for ailing coach

Jason Thompson’s deft touch as a mentor and coach was felt by both players in U.S. Soccer league as well as their parents and fans of the sport. A young man, self employed and without children of his own, he’s lived in the area only a few years.

Yet when Thompson became seriously ill with a rare and aggressive cancer several months ago, the community wasted no time in coming to his aid.

At 4 p.m. on July 1, a meeting was held. By 5 p.m. the details of a July 18 fundraising event, including alternate dates, venue options, entertainment, publicity, collateral advertising and ancillary events had been agreed upon.

By 5:01 p.m., Julia Dodge,who hosted the meeting in the pedicure room at her Ocean Elements Spa, was writing a check to have T-shirts printed.

By noon the next day, activities were being coordinated with another support group doing the same thing.

“All I want to do is raise money,” said Dodge, who hosted the meeting in her place of business, Ocean Elements Day Spa.

Thompson’s extraordinary commitment and gift for working with the members of the U.S. 98 soccer teams, comprised of boys and girls ranging in age from eight to 12 years old, evident from the comments entered on a Web site constructed by his aunt as a way to keep in touch with friends and family, while he undergoes treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.

“A lot of our parents couldn’t volunteer or just didn’t know much about soccer when Jason came in three years ago,” said Kerri Price, whose daughter, Maia Billman (age 9) participates in the program. “He’s not all about winning, but about teaching the techniques. He’s been there for two practices and Saturday games, for years.”

And in true small-town fashion, it seems everybody knows somebody who knows somebody who can help in the group’s efforts to help raise money for the beloved coach.

Mark Williams, a restaurant owner from Freeport, blew into the room with an armful of plastic jars he offered to be used for counter-top appeals.

Price offered to do the graphic design and labels for the jars.

The remainder of the meeting generated ideas for a kid-involved beach soccer day at a local restaurant, with girls in bikinis passing the hat for the cause. (“Hey, it works,” said Dodge.)

Price expressed hope that in the difficult process of telling the young soccer players about Thompson’s condition, the actions of the support group would also show them how to help and bring about change.

WHAT: Kicking it for Jason, a fundraiser for local soccer coach Jason Thompson

WHEN: July 18, 3 – 7 p.m.

WHERE: Senior Mojito’s restaurant, U.S. Highway 331, at the foot of the bay bridge

HOW: Silent auction, paddleboard racing, beach volleyball and soccer, live music by Reed Waddle and a silent action and 15 percent of restaurant sales to be donated during the fundraiser.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP

DONATE at http://www.kickingitforjason.com or call (850) 543-8690 to contribute auction items.

TIP THE BAGGERS. Members of U.S. Soccer teams will be bagging groceries and collecting donations at the Winn/Dixie store across from the Silver Sands Factory Stores on the weekends during July and August.