Honouring Ali

Shannon Bell and Cindy Leung are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of the soccer community and friends of Ali Gharib.

 

This fundraiser is being established by the friends of Ali’s soccer families in Canada, East Africa and across the world. All funds will cover expenses associated with Ali’s burial and bringing his family from Kenya to Canada in the wake of his death, with all remaining funds being set aside for a fund/program in Ali’s honour.

 

Ali Abubakar Gharib experienced a medical emergency on Monday, May 16, and was in critical condition on life-support at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital until his passing on Sunday, June 5.

 

Ali, a senior high school student from Kenya, excelled as a student-athlete and was best known for bringing positivity to his family, friends, and classmates. His teammates looked up to him for his technical prowess, and he has helped countless players better develop and hone their skills both on and off the pitch.

 

In 2017, at just 14 years old, Ali was the youngest player invited to Kenya’s national U20 training camp, and his creative attacking play made him a standout offensive talent with Ascent Soccer. Moving through his academic and soccer pathway at Ascent’s Uganda campus, Ali earned the opportunity to compete for a global scholarship. Ali excelled on his entrance exams, earning a place at St. Andrew’s College. Over his three years in Canada, Ali was a creative force on the field, in the classroom, and on the stage participating in numerous drama productions.

 

With his many soccer and academic skills, Ali was set to attend the University of Dayton in Ohio this September making him Ascent Soccer’s first global scholar to earn an NCAA Division 1 soccer scholarship.

 

This fundraiser will specifically provide funds to support travel and accommodation for Ali’s family to journey from Kenya to Canada and to support his funeral expenses, with all remaining funds being set aside for a fund/program in Ali’s honour.

 

If you can donate, please consider contributing to this campaign. Any amount helps and will be gratefully accepted.

 

This fund will be led and managed by a committee connected to Ali, soccer and his communities including Cindy Leung, Shannon Bell, Amy Beecham and Harp Athwal. The funds will be administered by Amy Beecham (who was Ali's host family in Canada) and Harp Athwal as beneficiaries.  Amy and Harp will be directing the funds to immediately cover the following expenses that have been incurred:
1) Travel expenses including flights, airport transfers, visas, transportation, accommodations, and health insurance for Ali's mother who has traveled to Canada
2) Funeral expenses which were incurred for Ali's funeral that took place on Monday June 6th
3) Upcoming travel expenses for Ali's father, including flights, airport transfers, visas, transportation, accommodations, and health insurance for his travel to Canada.