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When Kurleigh Gittens Jr. steps on to the football field, thoughts of his parents are never far removed.

The outstanding Wilfrid Laurier University receiver knows the grind his dad Kurleigh — who has a barbershop near Bronson and Somerset in Ottawa — goes through every day. And he knows the reality faced by his mom Kim, who lives in Guyana and looks after nine children. His mom and dad were never really together, he married a Canadian and moved to Ottawa. Tattooed on Gittens Jr.’s arm is a cross with his mom and dad’s name.

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“I love the game, some of this I do for myself, but the other side of it, (playing in the CFL will) give me the opportunity to make my family happy and support them,” said Gittens. “(My mom is) so far away. It’s tough to talk to her. Technology back there, it’s not that good. To make a phone call, she has to leave and go to a phone booth 20 minutes away. But I know her love is there.”

Gittens, began playing touch football in Grade 8, then put the pads on a year later and it was quickly obvious he had a skillset and gridiron sense about him that’s tough to teach.