“Kick for Nick” Sends 10,000 Soccer Balls to Iraq

By: Laurie | October 4th, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilHAfhSyebA

When Pfc Nick Madaras was sent to Iraq, he noticed that the kids were so desperate to play soccer that they were playing with tin cans and rocks. As an avid fan/player/coach himself, he asked his friends and family to send him soccer balls to distribute to the children.

He never got the chance to do that. Pfc Madaras was killed by a roadside bomb in on September 3, 2006. He was nineteen years old.

His family and friends decided that this young man’s death would not be in vain. In the past two years, they have collected more than 10,000 soccer balls for distribution to the children of Iraq. Most recently, fans of UConn’s men’s soccer donated more than 1000 soccer balls for their team’s game against West Virginia.

A good way to create beauty out of something so horrific and ugly. I think this is the true definition of “The Beautiful Game.”

UPDATE: Reader Charles offers up this link for anyone who would like to donate to the cause.

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Category: World Football

Tags: Charity, Iraq War, Kick for Nick, Nick Madaras, World Football

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• old apple |  October 4th, 2008 at 10:33 am

  
  
  

  nice story

  Posted from United States

  

• Charles |  October 4th, 2008 at 12:02 pm

  
  
  

  Laurie, perhaps you could update your original post and include this link for people who would like to donate money or soccer balls to this great project.

  http://www.kickfornick.com/page.php?page=address

  Posted from United States

  

• Kelly |  October 4th, 2008 at 5:32 pm

  
  
  

  I was at the UConn game last night, very nice tribute to Nick, before the game.

  Shame UConn couldnt win, but still was a good night do to the generousity of the fans.

  Posted from United States

  

• Laurie |  October 4th, 2008 at 10:48 pm

  
  
  

  Charles, done. Thanks.

  Posted from United States

  

• gianfranco |  October 5th, 2008 at 10:04 am

  
  
  

  Kelly, I was also at the game and am a bit dissapointed in the UCONN performance.

  I had the pleasure of coaching against Nick’s old club, Wilton, in the State Cup last weekend and though we lost in OT, it was an excellent game. Wilton is a phenomonal club, great people and even greater coaches, and truly shows how far soccer can go in the development of person like Nick Madaras.

  Posted from United States

  

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