It was a gorgeous day in the Puget Sound and by all reasons, there was no reason to be unhappy.  These types of days are numbered and short lived. I was smiling from ear to ear as I watched the diversity represented by the boys and girls that were enjoying every minute of their camp time, when one of the mothers approached me with a smile that was accompanied with flowing tears.

She expressed appreciation that her 7-year-old son had the opportunity to attend the camp, due to scholarships provided by the generous sponsors and because he also sported a smile. What made this a special moment was because he had withdrawn and become isolative due to the pain and brokenness of his spirit by an abusive father.

That day at the Federal Way/Run to Win soccer camp, her son was sitting in a Federal Way police car. No, he was not under arrest. He was enjoying the visit from a police officer, as he jumped from the front seat to the back. According to mom, he was scared of the police or siren sounds due to the many painful experiences he had suffered in which a police call was necessary.

This year’s eighth annual Federal Way/Run to Win event is on June 24, 25 and 26 at Decatur High School, with two sessions: Soccer from 9 a.m. to noon and football from 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $40 and scholarships are available. It is for both boys and girls ages 6 to 14.

We are committed in providing a safe, instructional, competitive and fun-filled environment under the direction of Run to Win. Also there will be a visit by the fire department with the red truck, special quest speakers and guaranteed fun, fun, fun.

I especially give kudos to Run to Win and the Firefighter Foundation for being the pillars of support from the beginning. This year I want to add kudos to our new sponsors New Heart Church, Yulabeza Beauty Salon and King County Council member Pete von Reichbauer.

Since the genesis of the Soccer Camps, the model has been used in Seattle, Tacoma and White Center. After launching our first camp in White Center, they have grown from soccer to include football, tennis and basketball. This is the vision I hope to see one day in our community.

Let me share some memorable moments that put that smile back on my face:

• The year we had a local Spanish radio station do their broadcasting live from our camp site, interviewing parents and kids.

• The year we hosted 20 kids from Eastern Washington that were from migrant families. It was a beautiful site to watch our local kids mingle and laugh with their new friends from the other side of the mountain.

• Then the year a 6-year-old boy met the firefighter that saved his life. There were two key heart-felt moments; first when the driver of fire truck stepped out of from the driver’s seat and the burnt scarred 6-year-old shouted, “That’s the man that saved my life;” and the other was when the boy said to his mother via cell phone, “Mommy I met the man that saved my life.” Whew that was one emotional and successful year.

• Then, the one on the humorous side. Two weeks before the camp, I was pulled over for a traffic violation. The officer who captured my autograph was assigned to be our guest representing the police department.

So as you can briefly see, the camps are more than just kicking a ball. It is about life-changing experiences for both the camp hosts, the kids, the parents, and for our friends that believed that our kids need a healthy and safe community.

Yes, indeed this is why I refer to this year’s camp as the 8th Wonder of Federal Way. I am eager to see what memorable landmark will be left in our hearts. Perhaps the word that best fits every year’s experience is serendipity or divine. The stories involving the fire and police department were not scripted; as a matter of fact both were not scheduled, but due a call in the community, both stepped in for the scheduled presenter.

Thank you Federal Way, Run to Win, Firefighter Foundation, all the sponsors during the last eight years, and most important, thank you boys and girls for making this year the 8th Wonder of Federal Way.