Telethon 2026: AC Milan superstars meet inspiring Perth kids from Mini Ballers for inclusive football match

Living with a rare genetic disease means four-year-old Struan MacLean has missed out on many childhood experiences.

But every Sunday when he takes to the football pitch in his walker, Struan feels the joy and camaraderie that comes with kicking a ball alongside mates.

It is a feeling that all children should experience, no matter their background or ability, and this is what drives the Football Futures Foundation.

The foundation provides inclusive and accessible soccer programs for WA kids and its Telethon-funded Mini Ballers program, for children under six with disabilities, is now in its second year.

Four superstars from AC Milan got to see Struan and other young participants in action on Thursday at an inclusive session at the Perth Football Centre.

Matteo Gabbia, Ruben Loftus Cheek, Mario Gila and Fikayo Tomori, who are in Perth for the Italian Festival of Football, met the kids before taking part in a kick to kick.

Struan’s mum Ashley MacLean said Mini Ballers had been life-changing.

“He misses out on so much, he can’t climb and run, so to have these other special activities to take part in, alongside other children in wheelchairs and walkers, shows him what he can do, and it’s a special treat for him,” she said.

“It gave him the ability to kick and chase the ball and introduced him to soccer, and now here he is meeting the soccer players he watches on TV.”

Struan was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 after his parents noticed he was missing developmental milestones at around six months old.

He later became the first child in WA to receive the gene therapy Zolgensma, travelling to Sydney for the life-changing treatment at eight months old, just three weeks before he was due to exceed the age eligibility.

Without the therapy, the life expectancy was just two years old.

“Once he received the treatment it was remarkable, within a few months he was getting stronger and he no longer needed a nasal gastric tube,” Mrs MacLean said.

Mrs MacLean said an added benefit of Mini Ballers was the opportunity to connect with other parents.

“The journey for any parent of a child with a disability is heartbreaking, it impacts you forever. To spend time with other families is priceless,” she said.

Football Futures Foundation inclusion programs manager Mick Owens said Mini Ballers filled a gap which existed in the crucial early years.

“They’re having fun with their friends and creating a community, and they realise they don’t have to be sitting on the sidelines watching,” he said.

Mini Ballers has participants in Broome, Albany and Perth and there are plans for a Pilbara program.

Thursday’s event formed part of a collaboration between Telethon, Football Futures and Optus which will also see Struan and five other children take part in match-day experiences at the AC Milan versus Inter Milan game at Optus Stadium on August 5.

Last year’s Telethon star Jordan Blair will deliver the official match ball, while Nate Fearnall, Liam Robeson, Chiara Roberts and Wilson Trichet will be mini mascots.

Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti said the Italian Football Festival was giving WA fans the opportunity to connect with their heroes through community events, open training sessions and kids’ clinics.

“It’s a big week, and we want the whole WA community to be behind it,” she said.