Euan beats his goal with kit appeal
Schoolboy inspired by Messi
A big-hearted boy collecting football kit for impoverished children is running out of space to store the donations.
Euan Scott has collected over 100 pairs of boots and a huge bundle of strips for the charity Kitaid.
His mother Jude said: “It first went from Euan wanting to donate a few of his own old boots that he had grown out of, to him taking on this big challenge collecting 100 pairs of football boots for Kitaid.
“He soon exceeded that target and we also have taken in loads of football strips but now I have a cupboard full of stuff and my outdoor storage is full too.
“We have also decided to fundraise to cover the cost of getting it all to Kitaid in Hertfordshire.”
The 10 year old was inspired to help underprivileged youngsters while doing a school project about Lionel Messi. He discovered that many children do not have even basic equipment like football boots or strips and play barefoot or kick around plastic bottles.
Jude said her son began to empathise with Messi when he discovered the Argentinian had overcome a lot of problems in his youth.
When Euan found out about his hero’s struggles he was really inspired and decided to help the kids he had read about with no boots in Africa.
Jude continued: “The school have been fantastic with him and this project seems to have been the turning point for him.
“The more he read up and found out about all these poor kids, the more he seemed determined to do something.
“I am so proud of him for having the bravery to take this on.
“For him to do this all on his own has been something of a journey and I am so proud.”
He easily exceeded his target numbers and even had some surplus stock that he gave out locally.
Bathgate’s Urban Nature Retreat were looking for waterproof jackets for children who attend their clubs and Euan donated these from the stock he had collected.
The Mid Calder Primary School pupil has also been named junior citizen of the year by the village’s community council.
Euan is now planning to fundraise to cover the cost of transporting the goods he has collected and he and Jude are in talks with Livingston FC about a fundraising event at the stadium.
For more information visit the Facebook page Kit aid - Euan’s 100 kit challenge.