Crows’ children to be showcased in curtain-raiser ahead of AFL game against West Coast

THE children of some of the Crows’ finest players will have a kick at Adelaide Oval ahead of Saturday’s game.

Mark Bickley and his sons Tyson, 8, and Xavier, 6, will be part of the Crows' father-son/daughter game on Saturday. Picture: Sarah Reed

IT’S a game plan Crows coach Don Pyke is happy to share with the entire footy fraternity — helping out the state’s most vulnerable kids.

Pyke and his wife Jodie are urging fans to bring children’s clothing to today’s game as part of Kickstart for Kids, one of the club’s charity partners.

The clothing will be handed out with basic hygiene supplies at the Kickstart for Kids school holiday camps held for at-risk primary school children across the state.

“The wonderful thing about the Kickstart program is that it gives them (kids in need) breakfast and lunch during school time, but the school holidays are a nightmare for these children,’’ Jodie Pyke said.

Crows coach Don Pyke and his wife Jodie packing bags for the Kickstart for Kids program. Picture: Sarah Reed

“They’re not sure where their next meal is coming from. They could go days without having any real care. So, for them, it’s an opportunity to have some fun, to be loved, to be fed, to feel safe.

“The things that we all take for granted, food, shelter, love and safety, these kids don’t have those things.

“For a lot of these kids, they don’t even own a pair of shoes, don’t own a hair brush. So these kids need closed-in shoes, they need tracksuit pants, hoodies … last winter we saw kids rock up in thin little T-shirts and a pair of shorts, just shivering in the hall.’’

Crows players, along with the Pykes will hand out the packs at the upcoming school holiday camps in July.

Another highlight for those attending the clash against West Coast, is some of the children of decorated players will line-up in today’s curtain-raiser against West Coast. Dual premiership Mark Bickley’s sons Tyson, 8, and Xavier, 6, will take part in the curtain raiser.

“It gives our children a chance to see what their dads did for such a big part of our lives; play on a big ground, experience the change rooms and get the feel for it,” Bickley said.

Originally published as Crows’ children to be showcased in curtain-raiser ahead of AFL game against West Coast