Budding football players in Winnipeg’s inner city got a chance to learn with the pros Tuesday evening.

For the second year, Finish First Football offered a free camp for inner city kids. The program offers training and mentoring by professional athletes.

The program runs August 18 and 19 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the field outside Tec Voc High School.

Participants marched in a parade around the neighbourhood before they practiced drills.

Some of their coaches included past and present CFL players and members of Winnipeg Police Service.

Organizer Kito Poblah, a former Winnipeg Blue Bomber born in Montreal, says there’s a need for sports in the inner city.

“Finish First Football is really just an organization that's trying to bring the community forward and come together as a community in the spirit of football," said Poblah.

The camp also hoped to raise funds for Nathan Ritchie, a peewee player with the Portage Pitbulls, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.

Program registration and details can be found at finishfirstfootball.com.