02/15/2012 0 Comments Contact Our News Editors

Wherever you find a major soccer game this season, chances are you'll find the Believe Army at the same location.

The Believe Army are the dedicated volunteers that come out to support the challenge to find a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. They'll be recognizable by a special tent they'll be using and an impressive array of Believe Army gear.

The Believe Army also supports Steve Barber, who at 25, was diagnosed with ALS in 2004.

The Army was originally known as the B-Leaf team, a play on word which reflected Steve's loyalty to both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins.

"It just turned into Team Believe and now it's the Believe Army," said Lindsay Disbrowe, Steve's fiancee. "Steve's really got involved with the branding of the charity, so he's changed things up in the last couple of years, and made it more the army, of people who have been fighting ALS."

The Believe Army starts a new chapter this spring, now affiliated with the St. Thomas Soccer Club.

"We have six tournaments we're going to be at this year," Disbrowe said.

"We also do baseball tournaments and we also are going to be at the Stars' final home game against London raffling off a jersey. So we pretty much have something once or twice a month to try to do a fundraiser.

"We actually met with the St. Thomas Soccer Club and they said the Believe Army will be their charity this year. We're going to be set up at their Meet the Coaches day and we're going to be sponsoring a team ourselves."

"As well, we'll be at all the tournaments, selling Believe Army gear and raising awareness and trying to raise some funds for ALS."

You'll know the Believe Army by its distinctive camo tent.

"We have a big tent and table that's all swagged out in the Believe Army logo. It's a big black tent with our logo, website and all that information."

The Believe Army is not a small group by anyone's standards.

"We have about 200 people that help us out at different events and come out for different things. There's probably a core group of 35 people that help run a lot of things."

The Believe Army raises money to help the Barber family pay the bills it wrestles with in caring for Steve.

"We raise for patient care. So anything that Steve needs that's over and above what the government or what my health care at work pays for. Like, his wheelchair was covered 75%, but it cost $16,000. We still had to pay $4,000 for that.

"His wheelchair-accessible van was not covered at all. Different things like that, he's got a special bed. We also raise money for research at the Robarts Institute at the London Health Sciences Centre.

How successful is the Believe Army when it comes to raising money?

"I know we've raised more than $100,000 since we started," Disbrowe said.

The efforts have been highlighted by the success of The Walk To Believe every year in September at Pinafore Park that has brought in an average $25,000 a year for research.

There's also a golf tournament the Believe Open.

Going to St. Thomas Soccer Club tournaments should open new doors, Disbrowe believes.

"We hope we're going to reach out to a new audience of people. Steve is basically well known among his friends and his family group. That's where he started out with and this is giving us an extension into the community."

"A lot of people don't know what ALS is. It's kind of like a silent disease. It's not one people fundraise for a lot or talk about. A lot of people come up and ask what is this for? What is ALS?

Steve's sister, Meg is sponsoring a fundraising concert, Women In Song, Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Princess Avenue Playhouse, 40 Princess Ave.

Performing with her will be Kiera Fife, Molly Mathers, Eric Walker and Lindsay Hull. The concert will tribute artists like Sara McLachlan, Joni Mitchell, Eva Cassidy, Whitney Houston and Lady Gaga. Doors open at 1 p.m.