PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers will hit the road to conduct community events and a youth soccer clinic in Medford, Ore., as part of the annual “Rose City Road Trip,” presented by Providence Health & Services.
Beginning on Tuesday, June 21, Timber Joey will head to South Medford High School (1551 Cunningham Ave.) with the MLS Cup, allowing media members, fans in the community and the Rogue Valley Timbers a first-hand look at the Timbers trophy from their championship-winning season in 2015.
The following day, Timbers midfielder Jack Jewsbury will begin the day with a hospital visit from 9-10:30 a.m., spending time getting to know patients at Providence Medford Medical Center before heading to a youth soccer clinic being led by the Timbers youth development staff for children ages 5-12. Set to run from 10 a.m. – 12 noon (Pacific) at US Cellular Community Sports Park (300 Lowry Lane), the clinic will feature a training session, along with an autograph and Q&A session. The clinic is free and open to the public, and participants must pre-register online at www.timbers.com/rosecityroadtrip.
“Creating healthier communities is our goal and much of that work happens outside of the medical environment, in places like soccer fields and other areas where families can be active,” said Cindy Mayo, Providence Health & Services southern Oregon chief executive.
With a fellowship in sports medicine, Aaron Williams, D.O., Providence Medical Group, says, “We look for areas to promote exercise, and partnering with the Timbers to present the ‘Rose City Road Trip’ in Medford, including the free kids’ soccer clinic, is a great example of using sports as a vehicle toward a healthy, active lifestyle.”
Closing out the visit, the Timbers will participate in a community event in collaboration with the Unete Center for Farm Worker Advocacy, running from 1-3 p.m. (Pacific). During the event, Jewsbury and other attendees will help package food staples and other items to distribute to local migrant farm workers. Founded in 1996, Unete was formed as a movement of farm workers and immigrants, striving to empower and enrich the lives of both groups through education, cultural presentations, advocacy and much more.
In previous years, the Timbers have visited Klamath Falls, Salem, Eugene/Springfield, Bend, Astoria, Medford, Pendleton, Coos Bay, The Dalles, Corvallis and Vancouver, Wash.
