Langley man plans weekend fundraiser to kick cancer in the balls

Josh Collins has a unique way to raise money to help families care for loved ones battling cancer. The 31-year-old former professional football player is trying to kick 100,000 yards worth of field goals and raise $100,000 in 48 hours this weekend.

Starting at 7 p.m. on Friday night (August 24) at SportTown B.C. in Richmond, Collins will begin booting balls through the uprights in an effort to meet his lofty target. In order to reach his goal, Collins will have to nail 2,858 field goals from 35 yards out in relatively rapid fashion.

The project has been in the planning stages for eight months, but has been something Collins has been thinking about since his father Ron passed away from lung cancer in 2008.

“I know there is a lot of money that is donated across B.C. for the treatment of various types of cancer as well as research, but this is a project that will provide support to families and loved ones who are coping with the physical and emotional effects of this disease,” Collins says in a statement. “After seeing what my mother had to endure being by father’s side, I just knew something had to be done to help.”

Collins is welcoming any and all support for his mission. Specators can drop by SportTown (4991 No. 5 Road, Richmond) all weekend.

Those unable to to check the event out in person can find more information online at www.kickingcancer.ca.

You can follow Jeff Paterson on Twitter at www.twitter.com/patersonjeff/.