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Guelph's Lisa Bowes looking to make a difference through children's book series

Lucy Tries Sports aims at getting young children to be active, healthy and happy through sport

Lisa Bowes had her "eureka!" moment shortly after her own daughter turned two in 2008.

The Guelph native and veteran sports broadcaster was hit with the idea of writing children's books aimed at getting them interested in trying sports.

"Once I became a mom my world expanded into a whole different way of thinking," said Bowes, who works at CTV in Calgary.

"I came off the air one night and thought 'gee whiz we've got an amazing opportunity here. I don't see anything out there connecting these young readers to sport.'"

Bowes will be back in her hometown July 20 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. signing her copies of latest book Lucy Tries Soccer at The Bookshelf.

It is the third book in her Lucy Tries Sports series and follows Lucy Tries Luge and Lucy Tries Short Track.

Aimed at children aged 2 to 7, they follow the exploits of a precocious sports adventures of a youngster named Lucy, who Bowes said is a composite of many people, including her own daughter and many of the high-level female athletes she has come across in her career.

"I'm really passionate about trying to connect kids to different types of sport. To get them to understand that it's so important to stay active," Bowes said. "The whole idea behind this is that we can encourage kids to stay active through reading.

"If we can get children active early, chances are they will stay active their whole life."

Bowes, a Centennial CVI grad, was a standout soccer player herself back in the day, eventually playing for the University of Western Ontario.

"I knew the first summer sport I felt she was going to do was soccer, thinking of the Rio Olympics cycle," she said.

Bowes said the books aren't about winning. In Lucy Tries Short Track she doesn't win the race. It's about trying sports, being active, playing sports the right way and the positive attributes that sport can bring.

The series has received plenty of positive praise from some high profile athletes.

"Lucy is an awesome role model for kids at any age! She demonstrates the value of getting involved in sports and how teamwork and good coaching can positively affect childhood and beyond," said Christine Sinclair, captain of the Canadian women's soccer team.

"This book really represents the community of speed skating in Canada: members and athletes getting together in a fair-play atmosphere for the love of sport where we can also see, outside of the rink, great friendships," said five-time Canadian speed skating Olympic medallist Marc Gagnon.

"I really want to try and make a difference. The help keep our population active, healthy and happy and through Lucy I think we can do some really neat things to encourage them."

She's also looking forward to catching up with some old Guelph friends during her quick visit.

"I love coming into town. Every time I come back I say to my husband 'it would be so awesome to come back here,' it's such a great place' and it really is a lovely little place," Bowes said.

More information on the book series can be found at www.lucytriessports.com.

 


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Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
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