Fifth-grader Jude Mitton signed by TRU WolfPack as team’s newest member

KAMLOOPS — Jude Mitton is the newest member of the TRU WolfPack Men’s Soccer Team as he was called out in the starting lineup on Friday (Sept. 9) night.

Jude has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which affects his abilities to run and walk and isn’t able to play sports. That didn’t stop the WolfPack from honorarily signing him earlier in the week.

As his condition is quite rare, his mother Kasha says it’s amazing to see the support.

“We’re really honoured, this is community spirit at its finest. Jude’s disease is a rare one so he is the only boy in Kamloops that we know of that has this diagnosis. It can be quite isolating so having this community support and having the awareness out there it really means everything to us.”

Jude met the team before the game and got acquainted with his new teammates. They say it’s truly a blessing to be able to give back to someone like Jude.

“It means everything honestly it’s such an inspirational story and it moved everyone in the room instantly we couldn’t believe what we were hearing and it’s such an important movement and we’re just proud to be a part of this,” says Team Captain Josh Banton.

“For us, it might just be another day but it’s absolutely life-changing for someone like that and to see you have an impact on someone is really touching,” adds Goalkeeper Jackson Gardner.

Throughout the season, the WolfPack will continue to raise funds and awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

WolfPack players say they’re happy to share Jude’s story and are inspired by it every time they take the field.

“With someone like himself, someone going through so much can still find a way to make people smile and find happiness in himself it just makes you have a different perspective on life,” Banton says.

“It really makes you grateful for what you do have and never take anything for granted – enjoy every second that you step out on that field there’s people that would wish you the same and for us to be able to give back in that sense and to be able to make him feel what he deserves is a really great feeling,” Gardner adds.

The night was capped off with a WolfPack win as they took down UNBC 2-1, but the main focus is to create more awareness for diseases like Jude’s.

“I think it’s not just about muscular dystrophy, it’s about creating a world that is accessible, inclusive, and alleviates any undue hardship for anyone that has any accessibility challenges. I think it’s about fostering that inclusivity and I think this is a perfect example of that,” Kasha Mitton says.

With a big smile on his face and cheer in his heart, Jude wishes his new team some success for the rest of the season as he yells “Go WolfPack!”