When Aileen Ryou takes the pitch on Friday, she will do so carrying the memory of the woman who was always in her corner.
After losing her mother, Jane Lee, to cancer in the summer of 2025, the upcoming Soccer for Cancer match carries special meaning for Ryou.
"It was the hardest thing that I've ever experienced," Ryou said. "It made me grow up faster and have to deal with things that I didn't think I would have to. It's made me appreciate all the little things and my family."
Now, along with her teammates on the UBCO women's soccer team, Ryou is helping raise support for the Kelowna Cancer Lodge ahead of their 5 p.m. game against the UNBC Timberwolves as part of the larger national fundraising initiative led by the Canadian Cancer Society.
Ryou enjoyed a family trip to South Korea in 2017 when she was eight years old.
Ryou's mother was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2022 and demonstrated remarkable strength and resilience throughout her battle with the disease.
"No matter what she was going through with her treatments and everything, she would always prioritize our family and put me and my sisters ahead of herself," she said. "She would always make sure we were okay before she was, and I think every single person that's met her has loved her. My mom was the kindest, sweetest, and most selfless person I've ever known."
Pictured with her mother at age 10, Ryou was already developing a passion for soccer.
Growing up with five sisters, Ryou remembers fondly the numerous vacations the family enjoyed together, including road trips from her hometown of Calgary to Vancouver and the Okanagan.
British Columbia has always held a special place in the family's heart, and those frequent visits were a big reason Ryou chose UBCO to continue both her academic and athletic career.
"This province has always been like a big thing for my family as we love coming here," she said. "When I arrived on campus and showed my mom on FaceTime, she really liked it and knew that I wanted to come here. She encouraged me to strive for whatever I wanted to pursue."
The Ryou family shares a lighthearted moment during a family dinner in 2024.
That same support from Lee proved pivotal during Ryou's Grade 11 year, when she contemplated leaving the sport entirely.
Conversations with her mother about seeing where the sport could take her ultimately convinced Ryou to keep playing.
"She knew. She had that mother's intuition, that deep down, I would have regretted it if I stopped playing," Ryou said. "The fact that I'm playing right now is because of her, and I'm going to make the most of it and try to make her proud."
Ryou in action against the TWU Spartans on Sept. 25, 2026. (Credit: Will Thompson)
For Ryou, carrying her mother's legacy forward comes down to one word: compassion.
"I try to live every day like my mom did, as she was always so happy, positive, and caring," she said. "I want to make an impact on someone else's day, to make them laugh, and to show I'm there for them."
Women's soccer head coach Craig Smith has seen that characteristic in Ryou, praising the impact she has made on the team both on and off the pitch in such a short period of time.
"Aileen brings a warm energy that makes everybody feel light and fun," he said. "She brings so much to the table with her personality, and we're delighted to have her. She is an amazing footballer, who is going to have a great career here."
Ryou is all smiles before signing autographs for youth soccer players during Soccer Clubs Day on Sept. 27, 2026. (Credit: Kaczur Photography)
Ryou knows the match will bring plenty of emotion with most of her family expected to be in attendance at Nonis Sports Field.
"I'll probably cry, but it'll be happy tears just because of how much cancer has had an effect on my life and the fact that I feel like I'm doing something to honor her," she said. "Having my family there will mean a lot because I know I'm going to probably be extremely emotional."
It's not lost on Ryou that there are other families who have been affected by cancer, and she hopes her story encourages others that they are not alone.
"At first, I tried to go through it by myself, but I've learned that it's really important to lean on people that you love and that care about you," she said. "When you're deep in it, it's really important to turn to your people whether it be family, friends, or teachers. Just know there is going to be someone that can help you and that someone cares."
Ryou recently had her mother's words, "Do what you can," tattooed on her left arm in both English and Korean.
Knowing the larger Soccer for Cancer campaign is bringing together teams and athletes from across the country gives Ryou great joy.
"It's beautiful to see how much money people are raising," she said. "Being able to do something I shared with my mom while raising money and awareness means a lot because it feels like I'm honoring her while also supporting anyone affected by cancer."
Fans can support the UBCO women's soccer team's Soccer for Cancer fundraising efforts by donating through the team's Canadian Cancer Society fundraising website.
