A young boy with a big heart is encouraging donations of old sneakers so all kids can enjoy playing sport - with a little help from the Breakers.
Aaron Sievert, an 11-year-old Junior Breaker, was inspired to set up an initiative for children to donate their old shoes after seeinga boy at his school without sneakers.
The pupil at Verrans Primary School, on Auckland's North Shore, said a teacher bought the boy a pair of shoes so he could join in with the other children.
"He really loved playing basketball, but he couldn't play, his parents couldn't afford them. So the teacher bought him a nice pair of Nike shoes so he could play."
Aaron said it made him feel "disappointed" to see his classmates without shoes, some coming to school in barefeet.
He said it made him want to donate his own old shoes, but then he "thought even bigger".
Aaron approached the Breakers about starting an initiative encouraging other kids to donate their old sports shoes.
With help from the Breakers community partnerships manager Hayden Allen, the team's community wagon was parked outside the Breakers game at North Shore Events Centre on December 2 to collect shoes.
"It's something that we've come up with for our Junior Breakers leagues, we've got 104 teams that come through every week...It's an outstanding idea, and we were more than happy to try and facilitate it. We've got a catchment of kids so we're able to help out."
It just shows small people can achieve big things.
The community partnerships manager said they had received "truckloads of shoes", with more continuing to be dropped off.
He said there was a need for the shoes in lower decile schools, where about 40 pairs each were donated.
Allen said branded sneakers for children could cost anywhere up to $300.
He said the donated shoes gave kids the ability to have confidence in themselves.
