ReSport calls on Northland Taniwha fans

A grassroots sporting initiative designed to help Northlanders overcome barriers to being active is already helping better lives thanks to donations of second-hand sports gear.

The ReSport Charitable Trust - the brainchild of Joey Yovich and JP Dignon - collects donations using upcycled clothing recycle bins renamed pātaka gifted by the Salvation Army.

And while the trust is making a difference, there is still room for more. It is calling on rugby fans headed to watch the Northland Taniwha take on Bay of Plenty at Semenoff Stadium on Friday to drop unwanted sports gear in good condition in the pātaka outside Gate A.

The difference a donation can make is well-known to 41-year-old Steven Beazley, who had part of his leg amputated in 2008 after he was injured playing rugby league.

So when he got the call-up to play for the New Zealand physical disability rugby league team, he went for it. A training session in Auckland made him realise wearing normal shoes to play wasn’t going to cut it. However, he didn’t own any boots.

“I’m a family man, so I didn’t want to spend money to go and buy boots if it turned out the game wasn’t for me. That’s money my family could use,” Beazley said.

He turned to the ReSport Charitable Trust, who were able to find a pair that fitted.

Beazley went on to make the Whutupōro Rīki Whaikaha o Aotearoa - Physical Disability Rugby League NZ North Island team to take on the South Island as part of a wider trial.

He described the small gesture of donating unwanted sports kit as paying it forward in a way that could have a greater impact on someone’s life.

ReSport trustee Sharon Gibson said the trust has received a significant amount of donated gear from Northland communities but more donations at this Friday’s game were welcome.

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See full Northern Advocate article on the New Zealand Herald website