Al Lamons knows exactly how lucky he is. As a youngster growing up on the mean streets of Vallejo, California, Lamons saw plenty of violence until he made a decision to escape the path he was on and follow in his parents' footsteps by joining the U.S. Air Force.
Eventually, life took him first to Winnipeg and then to Vancouver where Lamons is a fixture in the hip hop community and coaches high school basketball. He takes guiding today's youth towards more positive outcomes seriously and it's a role he relishes.
When he settled in Surrey in 1992, Lamons started an organization called Friends United Beyond All Race (FUBAR) as a way to give youth and young adults of all races an opportunity to showcase their talents as one.
"I feel it is our duty as a human race to use our resources and talents to help our family, friends, communities and our world using the power of positive influence," Lamons says. "If we don't support each other, we have no support at all."
Two of FUBAR's pet projects are annual fundraisers for Make-A-Wish B.C. & Yukon, an organization that grants wishes to children ages three to 17 that are battling a life-threatening medical condition.
Summer Splash, now in its ninth year, is set for Sunday, Aug. 12 at Splashdown Park in Tsawwassen. An old fashioned family picnic, it will include music with celebrity DJs, performances, games, waterslides and a barbecue. Three dollars from each admission on this day will be donated to Make-A-Wish. The sixth annual FUBAR golf tournament will be held on Sunday, Sept. 9 at Guildford Golf & Country Club. There are still spots available and $95 gets you 18 holes of golf, hole-in-one contests, putting contest, barbecue dinner, prizes and more. Between the two events, Lamons is hoping to raise $6,000 this year, or enough to grant one child's wish.
For more information, visit www.myfubar.com or www. makeawishbc.ca.
