Ladner father, daughter are FIFA Unsung Heroes

Volunteering in Vancouver for the FIFA World Cup has been a memory of a lifetime for Ladner’s Christina Basi and her father Andy.

Ladner father, daughter are FIFA Unsung Heroes FIFA Unsung Heroes Volunteering in Vancouver for the FIFA World Cup has been a memory of a lifetime for Ladner’s Christina Basi and her father Andy. But the experience was made even more memorable and special when they were presented with a major award by Soccer Canada and FIFA - Vancouver’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Unsung Heroes Award. Christina is truly an inspiration who over the years refused to let not one, but two life-threatening tragedies stop her.

A brain injury at 16 had life altering repercussions. It left her a hemiplegic; she was completely paralyzed on the left side of her body. As part of her condition, she also lost left peripheral vision in both eyes.

Thanks to her hard work, her rehabilitation and her undefeated determination, she was able to walk again and use her left arm and hand. After graduating from high school, she was admitted into the nursing program at the University of British Columbia. However, she was only four weeks away from completing her first year when she suffered a second bleed in the brain.

She was back to “square one,” being completely paralyzed again on her entire left side. Day by day, she fought her way back with remarkable courage. After undergoing multiple surgeries, she has regained the ability to walk—an incredible milestone on a long road to recovery.

Her arm remains slower to respond, but she continues to work toward progress. Recovering from one brain injury is a monumental challenge; doing it twice, while still holding on to her dreams and showing unwavering determination, resilience, and hope, is nothing short of extraordinary. On June 24, after training, Canada’s soccer team met with the Basi’s.

Davies, who is Christina’s favourite player, presented both of them with replica FIFA World Cup trophies, spoke with them and posed for pictures. “From the first instance I met them and I had the ability to speak to them, I just knew how inspiring Christina’s story is and how encouraging her father, Andy, was. It was just a beautiful story to me,” said Genie Sithamparanathan, Host City Volunteer Deputy Manager.

“Christina and Andy are always the first ones there. They’re always the first ones there with a smile, no matter how early that is or how late the shift might be and their positivity it’s just, ‘Let’s go get this, let’s get this done’.” The Basi’s say volunteering has been a way to remain connected to the sport they loved while playing was no longer possible for Christina.

“I played football for seven years and then once my injury happened I started volunteering so I could still be included in the sport in whatever way possible,” she said. “I’ve volunteered for many, many years, and it’s just a sense of community.” Volunteering at MLS games for the Vancouver Whitecaps set the stage for their volunteering efforts at the World Cup games in Vancouver.

“It’s an amazing experience and it makes me happy just to be able to be a part of the game. Volunteering is just amazing and being able to be included, even as a person with a disability,” she added. “Being awarded this alongside my dad just makes this whole experience even better, because my dad’s the one that got me into football when I was a kid and he still plays himself.

So being able to volunteer together and both being a part of the same amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience is just the best.” Andy shared, “They wanted to thank us for our volunteerism, I mean it’s all about the players and the professionals, but we forget that behind the scenes there are so many people working,” said Andy. “So the volunteers, in a way, are an extension of the football team and for them to recognise us, that was fantastic.”

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