Darwin Olympic Sporting Club: Nik Halkitis pledges donations to mental health, domestic violence

The strikers of a Top End soccer club are under added pressure, with donations committed for every goal scored. Read which charities will benefit and what the season target is.

Left to right: Romy Milligan, Nik Halkitis and Brayden McLennan. Picture: Harry Brill.

A Top End soccer club has its sights on scoring a buckets of goals this season – but this time for a cause beyond the football pitch.

For every goal scored by the men’s or women’s senior team, Darwin Olympic Sporting Club will donate $50 towards victims of mental health or domestic violence as part of its ‘Hype for Goal’ campaign.

Club President Nik Halkitis said the decision to commit funds for hitting the back of the net was “the least we could do”.

“We know what it takes to be a non-for-profit and trying to raise funds, we can only imagine how hard it is for (charities) to try and raise funds and help these people,” he said.

“We do it because people love playing soccer – these people just need people to help them, it’s the reality of life helping people with life challenges.”

Founder of Two Two One mental health charity Sacha King hailed the “exciting” new partnership.

“We started from the gap in services in the Northern Territory, so it’s just really beautiful to have people want to help us on our mission,” she said.

Two Two One founder Sacha King said she it was “exciting” to have Darwin Olympic turn its effort to support mental health in the Territory. Picture: Harry Brill.

“It started from a little idea and it’s grown to something quite big and it’s really beautiful to part of the community and feel like we’re supported.”

General Manager of the Darwin Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Shelter Regina Bennett said victims of domestic violence would benefit from the partnership beyond the donations.

“Children are victims too, and because our service is basically a walking distance from (the club), our women and children can actually walk up here in the evenings and bring the kids for training or whenever they’ve suffered.”

For every goal scored, the club will donate $50 towards mental charity Two Two One or the Darwin Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Women’s Shelter (DAIWS). Picture: Harry Brill.

Ms Bennett said the proceeds of donations would provide day-to-day differences.

“A lot of the kids don’t even have shoes to go to school with – bags too,” she said.

“Usually (people) come in homeless and without anything so it’s about providing.”

General Manager of the Darwin Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Women’s Shelter (DAIWS) Pictured: Regina Bennett.

Ms Halkitis said they were aiming to raise $10k.

“Our target is $10,000 but I’m sure there’ a lot of charitable businesses out there that can help out,” Mr Halkitis said.

“So $5000 for each charity, but targets have been made to be broken, so put the word out there – let’s break that target.”