'Kick for Nick' program inspires local youth

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina Heikkinen
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  It was something as simple as a soccer ball.

It was spring of 2011 when Nick Downs, an avid high school soccer player, and his mother, Maria, were watching the news and learned about Army Pvt. Nicholas Madaras' legacy.

Downs also learned that Madaras, like himself, was a passionate soccer player. While on leave from Iraq in July 2006, Madaras wanted to collect as many soccer balls as he could and distribute them to children in war-torn countries. He was never able to distribute the soccer balls he collected, as he was killed by an improvised explosive device Sept. 6, 2006.

With a brother in the Army, a sister who was in the Air Force, and a father who was in the Army and is the current general manager of Army and Air Force Exchange Services stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Downs felt a personal connection to Madaras and his goal.

Shocked that a 19-year-old lost his life at such a young age; inspired by his compassion for children and passion for soccer; Downs knew he had to do something.

"I've been a soccer player all my life," Downs said. "My mom complains about tripping on soccer balls and I just wondered, 'what would it be like to not to have a soccer ball?' Tearing up their feet with a tin can and rocks; not having the proper equipment; it's not something any child should have to go through."

It was then that Downs decided to continue Madaras' legacy.

"We looked at the map on www.kickfornick.org, and we realized that no one from Montana had donated," Downs said.
With the help of his mother, they organized a two-day soccer camp for children ages five to 15.

Despite the little time he had to advertise for the camp, due to Olympic Development Program training also taking place, holding the soccer camp took precedence. This was also his first time being a coach.

"The soccer camp was free," Downs said. "The only thing we asked was that the children bring a soccer ball to donate to Kick for Nick."

The end result: success.

"In one day, we received 40 soccer balls," Maria Downs said. "Not only did the children get instruction from what Nick had learned from ODP training, but he made them aware of what our troops are doing; how by donating a soccer ball, they are bringing happiness to unfortunate children that don't have the luxuries we do."

Downs plans on expanding the soccer camp to help spread the story of Madaras. Through the efforts of Downs and his mother, every major city in Montana will have a soccer camp similar to his, including Billings, Kalispell and Bozeman.

"I can't imagine my life being taken away from me that young," Downs said. "He was just a few years older than me. People need to know that not only was he fighting a war, but he was bringing happiness to children in war-torn countries."