Every month, a modest field in North Riverside transforms into a sanctuary for fathers who have lost children, as the Charli Mae Foundation organizes pickup soccer games that blend sport with solidarity.
What began with six men in May swelled to 25 participants by July 17, a growth that founder Dean Arrowsmith attributes to the simple yet powerful idea of giving bereaved dads a place to run, laugh and remember their daughters on the pitch.
A Game That Heals
For David Vicencio, the matches are more than exercise; they are a lifeline for men’s mental health, offering a rare setting where shared loss can be voiced without judgment, and where camaraderie replaces isolation.
Melissa Vicencio, who discovered the games through the SHARE group at Edward Hospital, recalls the first session as surprisingly light‑hearted, a welcome contrast to the heavier support groups she had attended.
The foundation’s reach extends beyond local fields; it stages annual charity matches, the most recent of which was held in Dundalk, Ireland, raising thousands for Féileacáin, an Irish nonprofit that supports bereaved parents.
From Dublin to Chicago
This year, fathers from Féileacáin will travel to Chicago for the 2026 match scheduled for October 11, continuing a transatlantic tradition that blends competition with charity.
After each pickup game, participants gather for a social hour that Arrowsmith describes as ‘typical Irish fashion,’ fostering bonds that often extend far beyond the final whistle.
Looking ahead, Arrowsmith hopes the community will keep expanding, welcoming any father regardless of soccer skill, and planning more events that stitch together sport, support and solidarity.