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- By Franklin Junior Journalist Alyssa Rowe
Imagine being told your child can no longer play their favourite sport close to home because their local club ran out of money. That heartbreaking scenario could soon become a reality for hockey families across Franklin.
“The end is looming closer for our club, and we desperately need Franklin families to rally behind us,” says Shane Croft, a veteran coach from Pukekohe’s KoheKohe Hockey Club.
Rising turf fees and skyrocketing equipment costs are forcing the historic club into a corner. To survive, they are relying heavily on their annual community drives to bridge the financial gap.
“We don’t want joining fees to be too high for parents to even consider,” Croft says. “But if we don’t raise enough money, we might not have teams out on the turf next season.”
For the small, dedicated local community, losing the club would mean more than just missing out on weekend games. It would mean local kids would lose a safe place to exercise, build friendships and learn teamwork right in their own backyard.
Without this crucial rural hub, families would face long, exhausting drives to major city centres to get their children out onto the turf.
With such a small pool of people, it is hard to raise money. The club’s immediate goal is to raise at least $5000 to cover basic operational fees and keep registration costs affordable.
Despite fundraising events and grant applications, funding is still tight. One way the community can get behind the club is to volunteer their time and energy to support this amazing club by becoming committee members or helping out in other ways.
“I’ve been with KoheKohe Hockey Club for 22 years and I really don’t want to see it just dissolve,” Croft tells the Times. “It’s amazing watching the kids get so excited to play. I love watching the players grow and make lifelong friends along the way.”
So come on, Franklin. Let’s get in behind this dynamic club so it can keep bringing joy to young athletes for decades to come.
