England and the Socceroos might both be out of the World Cup and we’re heartbroken about it, but what a tournament it has been. Football has an amazing way of bringing people together – and this July, we got to see that up close, in a way that had nothing to do with the scoreboard.
Pest2Kill is proud to be sponsoring the Sydney FC Foundation Holiday Clinics for children with a disability these school holidays. Over the last two weeks we’ve been lucky enough to get along to two of the clinics, and both left a lasting impression on our team.
Cammeray Oval: Penalty Shootout with the Giant Cockroach
First up was a soccer clinic for kids with a disability at Cammeray Oval, run by the Sydney FC Foundation for kids of all abilities.
Pest2Kill got involved by hosting a Penalty Shootout Challenge, with our very own P2K Racing Roach – our famous giant cockroach mascot – stepping in as goalkeeper. The kids absolutely loved it, lining up for their shot at getting one past the roach, with plenty of laughs (and a few lollies) along the way.
The Powerchair Football Clinic
The second clinic was something entirely different: a Powerchair Football session, and one of the most eye-opening afternoons we’ve had in a long time. Our founder Sophie brought her three kids along, some of whom pitched in on lolly delivery duty for the day – and even got a go in a Powerchair themselves.
Watching the kids get behind the controls of a Powerchair changed how we think about the sport. A few things that stuck with us:
- Each chair costs between $22,000 and $38,000, and is imported from the USA.
- Every chair is custom-built so kids can drive it using whichever part of their body they’re able to control – hands, feet, even their chin.
- Top speed is around 10km/h, and they are fast and unbelievably responsive.
But it wasn’t really about the technology. It was watching kids who can’t play football the way we know it get to be part of a real team – training, tactics, teammates, the lot. Same camaraderie, same love of the game as any other football club.
There’s a full Powerchair Football World Cup (the FIPFA World Cup), and the Powerchair Football community has been campaigning for years to get the sport included at the Paralympic Games. We were honestly surprised it isn’t there already.
Proud to Play Our Part
Both programs – Powerchair Football and the inclusive holiday clinics – are delivered completely free of charge by the Sydney FC Foundation, removing barriers so every kid gets the chance to play. We’re genuinely proud to play a small part in that.
If any other businesses are thinking about where to put their support behind a great cause, we’d highly recommend reaching out to Jake Cohen at the Sydney FC Foundation.
