Telethon: Fair Game reaches children in disadvantaged communities have healthy lifestyles

Fair Game is putting a smile on the faces of children in socio-economically disadvantaged communities by promoting a fit and healthy Australia.

This year it has been handed grants for two of its programs as part of Telethon 2024.

The organisation’s Healthy Communities program helps spread health awareness to remote communities across the State while it’s Recycle and Donate initiative sees second-hand sports equipment travel to those who need it most.

Chief executive Nicki Bardwell said her team — which consists of volunteers — often travels throughout the Kimberley, Pilbara and Midwest in order to reach young people.

“We’re trying to make the activities really fun and engaging by gamifying the learning,” Ms Bardwell said.

“As a result of that the kids are retaining more the knowledge and their base knowledge is going up.”

One happy snap shows three young children happily wearing second-hand footy boots minutes after they received them.

The kids then went outside to test their new boots — despite temperatures soaring above 40C.

There are bins dedicated to collecting second-hand sports gear scattered throughout the Perth metropolitan area, with their locations accessible at www.fairgame.org.au/donate-equipment/.