Little Athletics NSW is proud to announce we will be working with three charities within the NSW community during the 2021/22 season, with Ronald McDonald House, Greater Western Sydney returning as a long-term charity partner alongside Little Wings and R U OK?

Our partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney (RMHC GWS) has extended for a further three seasons. RMHC GWS endeavour to support the needs of ill children and their families keeping them together, aligning with Little Athletics NSW core value of family. Over previous seasons we have seen numerous stripey sock events throughout the state, raising over $40,000. The partnership will continue to grow with a Christmas themed event planned for this season.

“The Little Athletics NSW community is a very special one. Each school holidays the team visit Ronald McDonald House Westmead to host a clinic, inclusive for the whole family. But it’s the support from the local Clubs that blows me away, we share an understanding of how important it is to provide care for regional and rural families with sick or injured kids. In recent seasons, local clubs have poured their hearts into fundraising, collectively raising over $40,000 to fund over 250 nights’ of support for these families.
It is because of generous community supporters like Little Athletics NSW, families that rely on Ronald McDonald House Charities can continue to be supported. We are so grateful and feel fortunate to be chosen again as a charity partner”.

– Belinda Woolford CEO, Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney

Little Athletics NSW aims to support the community throughout the state and recently connected with Little Wings.  Little Wings is a non-profit organisation providing free, professional and safe flight and ground transport services for sick children throughout rural and regional NSW. Striving to ease the journey and help sick children access medical services and treatments that are only available in major cities and towns, Little Wings supports families by creating an easy and safe travel experience associated with receiving vital medical treatment.

“We at Little Wings are so delighted to forge new partnerships, working together with Little Athletics NSW, to help create truly and meaningful impact on families from regional NSW as they care for their seriously ill child. This partnership will help us support families on a daily basis by providing free air and ground transport to access life-saving medical treatment only available in city-based hospitals, providing assistance every time without hesitation.” – Clare Pearson | CEO, Little Wings

Little Wings recently attended our 50th Anniversary Fun Run in Sydney Olympic Park providing the BBQ and we look forward to hosting them at many other events throughout the 2021-2022 Season.

Lastly, Little Athletics NSW is working with R U OK? to support their campaign for grassroots sporting organisations; ‘Hey Sport, R U OK?’. R U OK? is a harm prevention charity that inspires and empowers people to meaningfully connect with and lend support to those in their world who might be struggling with life’s ups and downs. ‘Hey Sport, R U OK?’ provides practical tools for grassroots sporting communities to build an R U OK? culture where they proactively look out for one another, normalise talking about life’s ups and downs and join together to provide help and support for everyone involved in their sport.

“Hey Sport, R U OK? is for all participants, officials, administrators and supporters across Australia’s grassroots sporting community. The campaign is designed to complement and support existing efforts with practical tools to encourage everyone involved to support each other both on and off the field,” said
R U OK? CEO Katherine Newton.

“We are looking forward to working with the Little Athletics NSW community to share the
R U OK? message, providing the resources and understanding on how to have a conversation and ask ‘are you okay?’”

“The chances are we all know someone who is struggling. By asking, “Are you OK?” and having a genuine and meaningful conversation, it can help someone feel supported, long before they are in crisis.”

CEO of Little Athletics NSW, Rebecca Shaw echoed the thoughts of the three partners.

“We are looking forward to working with these three community partners over the coming 12 months and beyond. Little Athletics is not only about having a healthy body, but also a healthy mind and promoting core family values”, said Rebecca.

“Ronald McDonald House, Little Wings and R U OK? share similar values to Little Athletics NSW, and we are proud to be able to align to raise awareness and provide support through our network of athletes, officials, coaches, volunteers and their families.”

Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for initiatives with each of our Community Partners and how your Centre can be involved.