THE PEDIAKICKS 2024 Invitational Football Tournament for a Cause kicked off from September 21 to 22 to aid the young beneficiaries of the Anak Kaugmaon Foundation, Inc.
Anak Kaugmaon Foundation, Inc., in collaboration with the Southern Philippines Medical Center Department of Pediatrics and CR7Foodtruck Football Club Inc., spearheaded the fundraising event to support the beneficiaries, ranging at the ages of newborns to 18, who are diagnosed with a wide range of diseases (cancer, hemophilia, and others).
The Pediakicks 2024 Invitational Football Tournament for a Cause, held at the Tionko Football Grounds, was participated by approximately 1,600 participants, organizers, and spectators. The number of beneficiaries to be targeted will depend on the amount of funds gathered in the event.
In an interview with SPMC Department of Pediatrics chairperson Dr. Jeannie B. Ong, she said that the fundraising event aims to provide the children admitted at SPMC with funds for special laboratories or medicine.
Ong noted that there are some of the beneficiaries who wish to play in sports however the ones diagnosed with hemophilia are only advised to stay mostly in hospitals for treatments due to their bleeding disorder.
“Siguro when they get well, yung mga acute na illness lang like mga cancer, maayo na sila, pwede sila maglaro dito [football tournament],” Ong said.
According to Anak Kaugmaon president Dr. Michael T. Manalaysay, the Pediakicks 2024 is the first Pediakicks football tournament event hoping that it will become annually to continue helping children with burdensome diseases as well as to advocate awareness.
“Gusto namin sana kung maging successful tayo today at maganda ang response ng mga tao, we will make another one next year and then the next year hoping it to be regular,” Manalaysay said.
