The Fiji Football Association has donated $32,819 to WOWS Kids Fiji to aid the fight against childhood cancer in the country. This funding was raised during the Fiji FACT and Rooster Chicken/Scoops Ice Cream Battle of the Giants Tournament, where $1 from each ticket sale was allocated to WOWS Kids Fiji.
The donation was presented during the opening ceremony of the FMF Inter District Championship last Tuesday at Churchill Park in Lautoka, by Fiji FA president Rajesh Patel and Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Filimoni Vosarogo. Patel highlighted the association’s ongoing dedication to supporting WOWS Kids through funds raised at various football tournaments since the Pacific Community Cup in 2022.
“We are pleased to join WOWS Kids in this vital effort, and we will continue this partnership,” Patel remarked. He noted that this initiative is a component of Fiji FA’s social and corporate responsibility efforts.
“We have our Football for Humanity program designed for the welfare of former players, but we felt it was important to partner with ‘WOWS Kids,’ who provides care for children battling cancer,” Patel explained. He assured that Fiji FA will persist in its support for WOWS Kids Fiji in all possible ways, recalling that last year, contributions amounted to $37,532, thanks to the generosity of football fans.
Vilash Chand, vice chair of WOWS Kids, expressed appreciation for the support from Fiji FA over the last two years. “On behalf of our founders and board, we are extremely grateful to Fiji Football. The donations have played a crucial role in saving many children’s lives,” he said. He added that the funds will help ease the financial stress for families who are facing difficulties in affording cancer treatments for their children.