As my team recovers from our first loss on Friday night against Rockford Rampage 8-6 in overtime, I thought I would give you an update with one of the many stories I had in my column from last year.

This is a special one as it has proven that no matter how far you go down the wrong path there is still hope for change.

This week I bring you an update of Pierre Binns who wrote a letter to me saying 'thankyou' for giving him a kick start and encouraging him to change.

Pierre had been suffering from an alcohol problem for many years and had the courage and strength to change and turn his life around.

When I first met Pierre he asked me for a job helping out with the field set-up for the ISL.

At this time he was still drinking and was not mentally strong enough to move himself forward, but was willing to work and provide for himself.

It was then that Pierre turned his life around and put himself through a rehab programme in the US.

Now he has been sober and drug free for one year.

Pierre has moved forward and wants only the best for himself and others. He realises the importance of life and is willing to do all in his power to be successful.

Since writing that letter to me, Pierre has been active with ISL/Hope4Life and he has been helping out setting up the field at the ISL games for the last year.

He has really made a great impression on the staff and the pro players who came down for the USA All-Star game last summer.

I tell you all of this to let you know that Pierre will be starting a new position with the ISL/Hope4Life next summer as the new field operator for the games.

Pierre will be in control of organising the set-up for ISL events and he will have to organise a group of volunteers to show them how to man their stations during the games.

This is a big job because when fans first come through the gate they have to be inspired and uplifted by the atmosphere – Pierre will be the one to help this happen.

For Pierre to be a field operator he needs to have some understanding and experience in this field.

I know he could do the physical part of the job but he needs to learn the other side and that is to create the atmosphere from vision.

In order to help Pierre with his weakness he will be spending many weeks staying with me in Baltimore to take part in the Baltimore Blast internship programme.

Pierre will be working closely with the Blast staff and General Manager Mike Conway to learn the ins and outs of creating a good event.

The Baltimore Blast, who average 7,500 per game, will be a great platform for him.

Pierre's first experience with his internship came this weekend at our game when he was working with Mike and the other staff to provide an atmosphere for the 9,000-plus fans that came to the game.

Not only did Pierre enjoy and learn about his field, he got a chance to see all the Blast staff's hard work pay off.

He started in the Blast office on Monday as is here for the next four weeks, developing his skills for his new position.

I hope that Pierre will inspire many others to continue to have hope and never give up, never think that it is over no matter what.

You may be struggling with life, at work or just having a hard week but do not stop having hope that things could change.

Pierre is a great man with a big heart and it looks as if he will be successful at his new position with ISL/Hope4Life for the summer. I and the staff wish him well.

As quoted from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: "Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being."

Until next time!