Parents' deaths have left eight sports-loving children scattered and with an uncertain future. Now their aunt has a new mission - finding a place where 'everybody can be together'

© 2005 - 2008 Canwest Digital Media

DAVID YATES

November 12, 2008

It was the biggest game of the season for the Sun Youth Hornets and À Ma Baie Eagles as the two undefeated teams squared off for the provincial mosquito football championship at Molson Stadium on the weekend.

It was an intense game with little to choose between two teams that are stacked with players from low-income families. In the end, the À Ma Baie team from Roxboro won 20-12 to finish the season with a perfect 15-0 record, while Sun Youth was 13-1.

Most of the Sun Youth boys, age 10 and 11, will quickly forget about the loss. But for runningback/linebacker Marcus Mitchell - named his team's most valuable player in the championship game after scoring a touchdown and making many timely tackles - there is more adversity to face.

Marcus's father, Kenneth Mitchell, died of liver cancer in August after the boy's mother, Jackie White, succumbed to a brain aneurism two years ago. Their untimely deaths have left Marcus, 11, and his seven siblings, who range in age from 9 to 22, with a future that is less than certain.

Many members of the tightly knit family were at the big game, sitting in the stands behind the Sun Youth bench. In recent months, following the father's death, the children have been scattered to live in the homes of relatives.

Marcus's two oldest brothers, Michael White, 22, and Ryan White, 21, were in attendance. Michael studies physical education at McGill University and plays on the Redmen basketball team, while Ryan is at Vanier College and is a captain and offensive lineman with the Cheetahs football team. He plans to go to university next year and hopes to continue playing football.

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