ORGANISERS of a Here-fordshire rugby project which has helped hundreds of impoverished children in South Africa take up the game have been welcoming a very special visitor.
Sixteen-year-old Olwethu Tom was selected from more than 500 youngsters by the South African Rugby Union to visit members of the Boots For All project, a charitable organisation based at Luctonians, which collects unused boots for disadvantaged children in South Africa.
The organisation was the brainchild of 15-year-old Matthew Kirk and was taken on by his father Andy following a family holiday to the country where they both witnessed at first-hand the enthusiasm and ability of local youngsters who were willing to play barefoot.
The first shipment of boots was sent to Cape Town from Luctonians in June 2000.
"We've had 300 kids get sports scholarships and 30 have been given academic scholarships so it's fantastic," said Andy Kirk. "But Olwethu is just something special."
