Ringwood Hawks and NBL1 help youngster Brady Cochrane raise funds with annual Clubfoot Game

Born with the rare disease clubfoot, you could forgive Brady Cochrane if he went into his shell. Not this 11-year-old. Find out how he has used hoops to change the lives of kids with the debilitating disease — in his own words.

Brady Cochrane is all smiles hitting the court with Ringwood Hawks Joey Miller and Jacob Gibson. Picture: Penny Stephens

My earliest memory is of being in hospital.

Most of the important days in my life have involved me having one or both of my legs in plaster.

You see, I was born with clubfeet, one of the most common birth defects worldwide.

BRADY, ALONG WITH THE RINGWOOD HAWKS, ESTABLISHED THE ANNUAL CLUBFOOT GAME, WHICH WILL BE HELD TOMORROW AGAINST NBL1 RIVALS GEELONG SUPERCATS

Brady Cochrane is all smiles hitting the court with Ringwood Hawks Joey Miller and Jacob Gibson. Picture: Penny Stephens

Next Saturday, the @RingwoodHawks are running their annual Clubfoot Game, which helps raise funds for @Clubfootwarrior and other children suffering from Clubfoot.

Earlier this week, Brady and his mum were on @gold1043, where a very special guest jumped on the 📞 #NBL1 pic.twitter.com/VanhQwHZ65

— NBL1 (@NBL1HQ) June 27, 2019

It affects one in 1000 births and results in the feet being twisted upside down and the soles of the feet face towards the sky and not the ground.

Having clubfeet has enabled me to meet people I would never have met had I been born with regular feet.

I have played wheelchair basketball which I wouldn’t have considered doing and as a result was able to attend the NBA Basketball Without Borders camp a couple of years ago.

I realised early I was lucky to have been born in Australia because I have access to world-class treatment.

Brady’s infectious smile lights up any room. Picture: Penny Stephens

Five years ago I decided I wanted to help by combining my love of basketball and my passion to help other children who were born with the same condition as me.

With the help of Ken Harrington and the Ringwood Hawks Basketball Club, the Clubfoot Games was created.

It has grown into an event that has enabled me to raise enough money to provide lifelong treatment and the gift of walking to 39 children with the help of a charity called Miraclefeet. I would love to see as many people at The Rings on Saturday, July 6 to support my fundraiser.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION

Aussie hoops legend Matthew Dellavedova has even leant some help, donating signed jerseys, signed shoes and tickets to the Boomers v USA game to the Hawks’ fundraiser, which will support Aussie Clubfoot Kids.

***The game between Ringwood and Geelong will be played at ‘The Rings’, 362 Canterbury Rd, Ringwood, from 6pm.

Still a few days to bid on the 2 tickets to the Boomers V USA game at Marvel Stadium. Tickets at face value of $205 each. All funds go towards Miraclefeet. Please sent through your bids to [e-mail]. Too good to pass up a chance to win so bid NOW! pic.twitter.com/XKYnlprSlR

— Ringwood Hawks (@RingwoodHawks) July 4, 2019

Aussie basketball great Matthew Dellavedova has donated memorabilia to help raise funds for the cause. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

This Saturday’s NBL1 clash between Ringwood Hawks and Geelong Supercats is the Hawks’ fifth ‘Clubfoot Game’.

The Clubfoot game helps support children suffering with Clubfoot, a the condition that affects one in 1000 child births and results in the feet being twisted upside down and the soles of the feet facing towards the sky.

Brady established the Clubfoot Game with the help of MiracleFeet — whiche provides organisational, technical, and financial support to clinics throughout the world in order to provide treatment to children born with clubfoot. The treatment costs, on average, less than $500 per child and is free or extremely low-cost for the families who receive it.

Aussie Clubfoot Kids also supports the game — a not for profit organisation aimed at assisting and supporting parents and families of children born with clubfoot or congenital talipes equinovarus.

Thank you @matthewdelly for sending me these sweet signed @PeakSportAUS kicks for my @miraclefeet fundraiser this year. You rock 🤘🏻 pic.twitter.com/x63r3GLO1f

— Brady (@Clubfootwarrior) February 15, 2019