2026 marks five years since football mad, nine year old fundraiser Jordan Banks was killed by a freak strike of lighting on the football pitch in Blackpool.

At the very same moment his name sake and family friend, Blackpool's Jordan Wylie MBE was finishing Djibouti's first pre school in the desert in Djibouti following a three year fundraising campaign to provide education to young children who, until then, could not access any.

The coinciding events led to a tradition of supplying football shirts to communities in the desert and the development of the first ever desert tournament in memory of little Jordan - a legacy for a very special boy had begun.

In 2024 little Jordans' Mum, Danielle travelled out to the desert community in rural Djibouti - one of the most challenged countries in the World, situated in the hottest area on the planet and between the better known countries of Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea and Yemen where she met fellow Mum, long term educationalist and a supporter of Jordan Wylie's school in the desert, Amy.

Seeing first hand the difference the shirts and tournament were making, the two Mum's left the country that year determined to do more - to make a long term commitment to bring hope and opportunity to the rural communities in the country.

Six months later, having brought third Mum and project specialist, Hari into the team, Gifting Goals was born, and with it a promise to build a proper football pitch so that children didn't have to play bare foot amongst rubble and rubbish, a place where villagers could be trained as coaches, where leadership skills could be harnessed, health could be promoted and the schools could carry out physical education classes - a space the desert community could be proud of and where celebration would promote community strength and sustainability. A place where dreams could be made and where the hope of a stronger future could be shared - a place little Jordan would be proud of and where his legacy could grow.

In 2025 the Gifting Goals team took their first team of volunteers to the community - furnishing the first ever community facility for Mums to play with their babies, taking coaches to start to develop training opportunities in readiness for the pitch, providing resources for schools across the area and holding the first ever girls football match - girls leading the way for the first time and seeing new possibilities.

This years campaign to build the pitch is monumental and will bring with it many firsts - but not only will Gifting Goals provide the pitch and facilities to store equipment, it will be built with the community - a first ever community project in the Afar desert bringing young and old together to learn, grow, lead and inspire dreams for the future.

With your help little Jordan's legacy will leave an incredible mark in one of the most difficult places to live on the planet - a permanent reminder that out of darkness, love, light and hope can rise.

Donate directly, set up your own fundraiser or join one of the events we are hosting. Every penny counts - your kindness will bring the most incredible joy and hope.