Sage Creek sponsors boy who funded soccer with bottle drives

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Josiah Ojokojo has previously held bottle drives to raise money for tournament costs and travel expenses. (Photo submitted by Crystal Harrison)

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Young Josiah Ojokojo is passionate about soccer, and now he has the resources to help get him away to tournaments.

Last week, Energeticcity.ca ran a story about the 10-year-old organizing independent bottle drives to cover tournament and travel expenses while he plays with the Fort St. John Soccer Club.

After reading Energeticcity.ca’s article, local company Sage Creek Oilfield Services stepped in to sponsor Ojokojo with $1,500 for the rest of the soccer season.

Sage Creek’s vice-president Ben Hindson said he wanted to help using the company’s Youth in Sports program.

Josiah’s mother, Crystal Harrison, said the money will go towards his final two tournaments of the 2025-26 season, including one in April.

“It just made me the proudest, happiest mom,” said Harrison. “It shows him that hard work does lead you somewhere. That was amazing for me as a mother.”

Tasked with the assignment of contacting the family was Brittany Mycock, Sage Creek’s Indigenous and community liaison.

Mycock told Energeticcity.ca she recognized the family from her days of working in School District 60 as an Indigenous student support worker.

“I immediately took action. I messaged his mom and we had a great conversation,” said Mycock. “We were just really impressed with that level of dedication and hard work, just everything he’s willing to do to ensure he can make those travel tournaments.”

This week, Josiah went by Sage Creek’s Fort St. John offices at 11111 Enterprise Way, where he received some company-branded swag along with posing for a picture with equipment manager Eric Lister, along with the donation.

Young Josiah Ojokojo received a $1,500 sponsorship for his soccer tournaments from Sage Creek Oilfield Services this week, which included a picture with equipment manager Eric Lister. (Photo submitted by Brittany Mycock)

“We are very committed to supporting the community where we live and work,” said Mycock. “We also take a proactive approach to community care. So, if we see a need and we have the ability to help, we step up.”

Mycock described Ojokojo as having a “big heart” upon meeting him.

Young Ojokojo says the sponsorship made him “really happy.”

“I’m just really grateful for the people that were helping me, like the people in Sage Creek,” said Josiah.

He says he will continue the bottle drives, his favourite soccer player is Brazilian star Neymar, and when he grows up, he’d like to don the jersey of German club Bayern Munich.

Those wishing to donate empty bottles for Ojokojo’s drives can do so by contacting Harrison through her Facebook account.