At the FIFA World Cup™, a 13-year-old from Barrie will represent far more than a coin toss.

On June 17th, as thousands of fans fill Toronto’s stadium for one of the biggest sporting events ever hosted in Canada, 13-year-old Blake Robinson will step onto the field for a moment few people ever experience.

As the Coca-Cola Coin Toss Kid, Blake will stand at midfield before kickoff, helping launch a FIFA World Cup™ match in front of a packed crowd and a global audience.

It’s the kind of moment most young sports fans dream about.

But for Blake and his family, it means something more.

For the past three years, Blake’s life has been shaped not by soccer schedules and school calendars, but by hospital appointments, dialysis treatments, and the uncertainty that comes with chronic illness.

The Barrie teenager was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome in 2023. What followed was a journey his family never expected. Despite treatment, Blake’s condition progressed, and his kidney function continued to decline. Eventually, he developed kidney failure and began dialysis.

Today, Blake receives life-sustaining hemodialysis treatment at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) six days a week.

For most teenagers, six days a week would leave little room for anything else.

Not Blake.

Long before he became a patient, he was an athlete. Sports were where he found confidence, friendships, and joy. They were part of his identity. And even as his health challenges intensified, Blake was determined not to lose that part of himself.

“Hockey is his first love,” his mom Samantha says. “Sports keep him feeling like himself.”

That determination has led to remarkable achievements.

While living with severely reduced kidney function, Blake tried out for Team Canada Ball Hockey. Not only did he make the team, he earned a leadership role as one of its assistant captains. Competing against older athletes from around the world at the United World Games in Austria, Blake helped Team Canada bring home a bronze medal.

He was among the youngest players on the team.

For many people, the medal would be the headline.

For Blake, it was simply another reminder that illness may change the way he lives, but it doesn’t change who he is.

Throughout it all, Ronald McDonald House Toronto has become a second home for Blake and his family. Living in Barrie while receiving treatment six days a week at SickKids would mean an exhausting commute and countless hours on the road. Instead, they have found a place to stay close to care, allowing them to focus on what matters most: Blake’s health, his education, and the moments of normalcy every teenager deserves.

Sometimes, those moments arrive in extraordinary ways.

Thanks to a special opportunity provided by Coca-Cola, a longtime supporter of Ronald McDonald House families, Blake was selected to serve as the Coca-Cola Coin Toss Kid at tonight’s FIFA World Cup™ match in Toronto. The experience includes a behind-the-scenes game-day experience and the chance to step onto the pitch before kickoff — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a young sports fan.

When he first learned about the opportunity, Blake thought it sounded “pretty cool.” He’s a little nervous about stepping onto the field in front of thousands of fans, but mostly he’s excited to be part of the atmosphere surrounding the World Cup.

And who could blame him?

For one evening, the focus won’t be on treatments, dialysis schedules, or medical appointments. It won’t be on kidney disease.

It will be on a teenager who loves sports, who dreams big, and who has shown extraordinary courage through circumstances most adults would struggle to navigate.

“Being chosen as the Coca-Cola Coin Toss Kid means so much to Blake and our family during what has been one of the most challenging times of our lives,” his step-day Tyler says.

“Much of Blake’s life over the past several months has revolved around hospital visits, treatments, and medical procedures. Opportunities to simply be a kid and experience something extraordinary can be rare.”

For Blake, this is a chance to stand on one of the biggest stages in sport.

For his family, it is something even more meaningful.

“It’s a bright spot during a difficult journey,” his mom and his stepdad say. “For one evening, he gets to step away from being a patient and simply enjoy being a 13-year-old experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime moment on the world stage.”

Blake’s story is one of resilience, determination, and courage. It is a reminder that behind every hospital room door is a child with dreams, passions, and a future worth fighting for.

On June 17, thousands of people will see Blake standing confidently on the pitch before kickoff.

What they may not see is everything it took to get him there.

The six days a week spent at SickKids. The countless hours of treatment. The courage it took to keep showing up, on and off the field.

But his family sees it every day.

“Blake’s smile has carried us through some very hard days,” they say. “And now, the world gets to see that smile too.”

Ronald McDonald House Toronto extends its sincere thanks to Coca-Cola for helping create unforgettable moments for families like Blake’s during some of the most challenging times of their lives.