I was at the game in Montreal when Ronnie Stewart broke the CFL rushing record (287 yards) on October 10, 1960, a record that still stands today. However, ever since then, little by little, my interested in football all but disappeared. Then the VI Raiders came to town.

Hadi Abassi, the team owner, as well as the team staff and executive and of course the players have done a wonderful job of promoting both the team and the game. Led by Hadi, they are a highly motivated and committed group of people. As well as playing exciting football, they have also taken every opportunity to give back to the community. Therefore like thousands of others in the Mid Island Region, I became more and more interested in the team.

Winning the national championship was the icing on the cake and it seemed that everyone involved with the team got a lot of media attention but then I began to wonder if everyone really did get the recognition they deserved. I bet, I thought, there are more than a few Hidden Heroes involved with this team.

A quick call to Hadi Abassi confirmed my suspicion as he started to list off dozens of people behind the scenes who made the team successful. They included people who took tickets at the gate, sold food and team clothing, provided security, and a number of other essential tasks.

Realizing that I was writing a column and not a book, I asked Hadi to settle on just one or two people. That’s when I heard about Kyle Kekrash, Megan McEwen-Nekrash and Andrea Leitch, Registered Massage Therapists from the Form Health and Rehab Clinic.

When Hadi first asked Kyle and Megan if they would like to help out with the team, they were quick to sign on. Megan, who’s from Nanaimo and played a lot of sports, says it was an easy decision because she immediately thought of all the coaches and others who pitched in over the years and helped her become the person she is today.

To say they have given a 110% commitment to the team would be selling them short. Tuesdays and Thursdays they do off site therapy at the Raiders training centre near the airport, they attend every game, and often work on players over noon hours and after hours at the clinic. By the way they do it all on a volunteer basis as does Andrea who joined the clinic and the team last summer.

As the second season started, even though Megan was pregnant with their first child, they insisted in continuing their involvement with the team. In fact they chose to give even more and found the time after work and on weekends to complete the extremely demanding Level 3 Industrial Paramedics Course. This certification allows them do any first aid that may be required on the field.

Megan is the true Hidden Hero, Kyle told me. She worked the September 2 game, delivered their baby, Julia, the following Tuesday and was back working with the team the Monday after that. Julia was on the sidelines for the National Championship game … but she (Julia) just hung out. She hasn’t started to work for the team as yet.

Later when I told Megan what Kyle had said, she insisted that he was the hero because through their second year with the team, he searched out and bought a new building for their clinic, supported her through their pregnancy, and in her words, “gave 200% to the team.”

It’s not hard to see why that marriage works.

Kyle, Megan and Andrea are just three of dozens of Hidden Heroes behind the scenes with our VI Raiders. By writing about the three of them, I hope to acknowledge all of the others. Their combined effort is much appreciated.