R News
by Mike Hedeen

Playing on a thick, green pitch with a regulation soccer ball is something most kids take for granted. Those in Iraq don’t have that luxury.

A couple of local soccer enthusiasts are doing something to help. They’ve joined the Kick for Nick campaign. It supplies new and used soccer balls to Iraqi children.

“My brother’s in the army, he’s on his second tour over there,” said Brian Elniski, Rochester Elite Soccer Academy director. “I’ve been involved in soccer my life whole life and I thought wow, what a great cause. And of course it was very touching to see Nick’s parents keep this whole thing going.”

Kick for Nick was founded by the parents of U.S. Army PFC Nick Madaras. After the Connecticut soldier saw children trying to play soccer in the streets with bags of rocks, he collected balls while home on leave and brought them back to Iraq.

Nick was killed in action by a roadside bomb September 3, 2006.

Kyle Smith decided to take up Nick’s cause as his senior project at McQuaid Jesuit High School.

“I’d been searching around, looking up ideas to do and nothing seemed right to me,” Smith explained. “I was on a college visit with my dad and I read an article din the school newspaper about Kick for Nick and it really intrigued me. The whole story, the background, soccer player myself, everything seemed to fit.”

Kyle and Brian teamed up with the Soccer Shack in Brighton, and the store agreed to be a place to drop off the soccer balls.

“It’s a good feeling to just be a part of something bigger just by merely being a drop off point, but yet we’re affecting so many people worldwide not just around here, not local but something bigger,” said the Soccer Shack’s Chris Andriew.

Susan DeRoin-Resende packed up the first shipment at her UPS Store, five boxes totaling 300 balls. She sent them free of charge to Nick’s father. He takes care of getting them to Iraq.

“It kind of hits a little close to home,” Susan said. “My father was a Vietnam vet and I know this is something he would think is terrific and I’m sure he’s proud that I did this.”

The Rochester Rhinos are also getting involved. They’re planning a Kick for Nick night for late July. Fans purchasing a ticket and donating a ball will get a second ticket free.