"All my life I wanted to do something good for my country, for the kids"
In 2006, Patrice Mallet was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer. He was told that he would only survive if a stem cell transplant took place.
In 2007, after the surgery took place and his cancer was in remission, Patrice Mallet decided he wanted to help the children in his home country of Haiti which had been a dream of his.
Mallet sold his company and formed Foundation Notre-Dame du Perpetuel Secours (FONDAPS).
Mallet's goal is to teach children growing up in slums important life skills by using soccer. His first target area in Haiti was Port-au-Prince, which contains the countries most dangerous slums.
At first, this program faced some hardship, but after time the area accepted Patrice and large amounts of children came to participate in FONDAPS.
Patrice pays for tournament fees, equipment, uniforms, and transportation all out of his own pocket so that this program is free to all that want to join.
He hopes to enstill a sense of hope in these kids in order to help them realize they do not need to join a gang or steal to get things in life.
When the earthquake hit Haiti, it caused a large drop in the number of kids able to participate in the program, but still today many join Patrice Mallet to practice five days a week and then play a game on the weekend.
Patrice's cancer returned in 2009, but he has been treating it with different medications and continuing FONDAPS.
"I realize how important life is, every moment, I am not ready to die yet. I have many, many things to do."
~Patrice Mallet
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