By JOLENE OGLE
Mac Millar has already raised $20,000, sent 2000 soccer balls to 15 countries, written a book, spoken to 10,000 students in India and met with more diplomats than the average politician, and he’s only just turned 11.
When Mac was nine he decided he wanted to share his love of soccer with as many children around the world as possible, so he started with the Australian Army which delivered 100 balls to children in an Afghanistan village.
Since then, Mac’s Play it Forward campaign has taken off with numerous TV and radio appearances helping fund his dream of sending soccer balls to all children in need.
Last week, Mac visited Noosa to speak at the Noosa Daybreak Rotary weekly meeting where he thanked the organisation for its continued support.
The bright and witty young man said it was Rotary’s support that enabled him to send so many soccer balls across the world and help make soccer a universal sport.
“Kick a soccer ball at someone’s feet and what happens? They kick it right back,” Mac said.
“Soccer is a language of its own.”
Mac, whose mum and grandfather were both involved with Rotary, said it’s the look on kid’s faces and the joy children get from playing soccer that inspires him to keep going.
However, he still “unfortunately” has time for school work.
While speaking at Noosa Daybreak Rotary’s meeting, Mac was presented with a $200 donation from the Noosa Heads Rotary, $500 from the Daybreak Rotary and two boxes of uniforms from Brazilian Soccer Skill’s representative Carl Harrison.
The donations will be used to buy soccer balls for children and the uniforms will be donated to communities along with the balls.
Noosa Daybreak Rotary president Gill Timpany said Mac was inspirational and his desire to help others restores faith in humanity.
Mac’s next project is to send soccer balls to children in North Korea before heading to Shanghai to give a Ted X talk that will be viewed by thousands of people on the internet.
