UPDATE: A FundAid campaign supporting Michel Ibrahim's cause has recently been launched. Donations can be made here.

A West Vancouver barber known for equipping less fortunate kids with soccer gear is looking to raise $3,500 after his recent fundraising initiative hit a roadblock.

For more than two decades, Michel Ibrahim has been collecting donated jerseys, balls, shoes, nets – any kind of soccer paraphernalia – and sending the equipment to countries like Croatia, Vietnam and Turkey.

His latest shipment, totalling 4,000 items and 1,600 pounds, was en route to his home country of Lebanon last month. It was to be doled out to Syrian kids living in refugee camps.

The 50 boxes, which Air Canada paid to have shipped, arrived in Beirut on April 22. Airport officials, however, wouldn’t release the goods unless Ibrahim paid an additional $3,500 out of his own pocket, the barber explained.

“We told them this was for charity, that it was for kids, but they wouldn’t buy it. They just wanted me to pay it. I even offered them $600, but they wouldn’t accept it,” Ibrahim said, adding the airport is also charging him a daily $60 storage fee.

Air Canada confirmed to North Shore News that the shipment has been withheld.

“For reasons not clear to us, the goods appear now to be withheld at Beirut Airport pending additional import payments by the consignee, which we are not able to assist with. Our commitment was strictly to transport the shipment,” wrote Angela Mah, Air Canada spokesperson, in an email.

Ibrahim said none of his shipments have ever sat in limbo like this. Possible reasons might be because he’s not a registered charity, he added.

“Last month I sent 1,400 pounds to Peru, no problem; 28 countries for the last 20 years, 17,000 kids and I haven’t had any problems, only this one.”

Ibrahim said he’s even insisted Beirut airport officials keep the donations, but they’ve told him he still needs to pay the $3,500. “It’s just breaking me,” he said tearfully.

The soccer enthusiast is hoping the community rallies together and raises the money so the shipment, which would equip 1,000 Syrian children, can be released.

“All these kids have lost a mother, father, brother and sister. Soccer helps keep them busy and lets them forget about the tragedy they’ve faced,” Ibrahim added.

Monetary donations are being accepted at the West Van Barber Shop, located at 1345 Marine Dr. For information, call 604-281-2844.