Hi, my name is Fadi, and I am a team parent of the Patriots FC Girls 2005 soccer team. We are a team of 21 girls and two coaches predominantly from the Westchester County, NY area. Our journey started several years ago when coach Mike Friedlander put together a team of seven and eight-year-old girls from Irvington, NY, committed to the goal of teaching solid soccer skills, sportsmanship and a culture of teamwork and mutual support. He advocated a healthy sense of family and responsibility to each other. Over the next few years Coach Friedlander guided the team through several league changes and selective player additions but never wavering from his commitment to the team culture and constantly improving skills. As the players' game improved beyond his ability to challenge them, he brought on additional coaches. Most recently coach Phil Bannister. Together they worked with the belief that these girls could compete at the very highest levels with enough hard work and commitment. This faith was validated this Wednesday, June 29th, when the Patriots won the USYS Eastern Region Championship finals, earning themselves a spot in the USYS National Championship in Orlando Fla on July 17th

Being a small team that did not recruit from large clubs or regularly cut or changes players, we are generally at a disadvantage over some larger clubs. In fact, four members of today's roster have been on the team since the original group of 7 and eight-year-olds. So we didn't have any certainty that we would be successful in the regional playoff. However, despite key player injuries and illness, the girls rose to the moment and won in an inspiring fashion. This wonderful surprise leaves us with the challenge of funding and putting together a weeklong road trip to Orlando for the National Championship.

With only 17 days until the big event, it is proving difficult even to find available airline tickets much less affordable fares. If you can find it in your heart to support these girls who have shown how far hard work and unshakeable belief in themselves and each other can take you, these funds will be used for the air travel, housing and local transportation (rental cars) for the team, coaches and chaperones for the length of the championship (July 17-24th).

The journey started nine years ago and has taken them to an invitation to a National Championship. Anything that you could do to help them successfully travel this road would be greatly appreciated by the Patriots team, coaches and parents.