Mitch Adkins might be only 12 but the Mulwala boy’s generosity and empathy has already caught the eye of politicians and AFL players.
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When footy mad Mitch saw footage of children in Arnhem Land playing football barefoot, he couldn’t understand why they didn’t have shoes, so he decided to collect some and send them on.
His mother, Lisa Adkins, said Mitch started the ‘Boots Beyond Borders’ fundraiser hoping 100 pairs of football boots would be donated so he could send them to disadvantaged communities in the Northern Territory.
“I was a bit upset [when I saw them barefoot],” Mitch said.
“Here a lot of children and adults, they have boots collecting dust in the wardrobe but those children don’t have any boots or runners.”
Six weeks since the fundraiser started Mitch has almost doubled his initial target.
The efforts of the conscientious 12-year-old caught the eye of Farrer member Sussan Ley, who offered her Griffith and Albury offices as drop-off points, and ex-Geelong AFL player Tom Lonergan, who pledged to donate boots.
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“It’s been phenomenal,” Mrs Adkins said.
“Mitch loves helping people… he just couldn’t understand why the children didn’t have boots.
“Because he plays football he knew it would hurt kicking without shoes so he came up with the idea of collecting boots and sending them.
“Now he’s had football boots come from as far away as Queensland, Tamworth and Melbourne.”
Mrs Adkins said Mitch was working with former Yarrawonga boy Bernie Price who works as an AFL remote development officer in the Northern Territory and would be able to get the boots where they were needed most.
She said Mitch was hoping to be able to fly to the territory to hand deliver the boots and play a game of football with the children, but at this stage the money donated wouldn’t cover that cost.
“He’s pretty young to be thinking about this and thinking of others,” Mrs Adkins said.
“Mitch is such a caring and kind person, it’s not that it was unexpected that he did it, but it’s just the type of child he is – he really does think of other people.”
Mitch’s tutor Ainslie Flanagan of Personal Best Mentoring and Tutoring helped Mitch spread the word via social media.
Mrs Adkins said Mitch had been overwhelmed by the support he had received, with Mulwala and Yarrawonga football and netball teams also donating merchandise to send the children.
She said the footy boots or merchandise can be used as long as they’re in a good condition.
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