Ball game proves miracles do happen
from Georgina Advocate
Jun 25, 2008
By: Daniel Perry
More than 250 parents, children and volunteers worked hard Saturday to get people talking about humanitarian opportunities for youth living with cerebral palsy, with a day of free softball at Keswick’s West park diamonds.
The main objective of this event was to create awareness for youth not living with disabilities by participating and integrating with children who live with the challenges of their disabilities, Executive Director of the Give a Miracle a Chance, Lynn Marles said.
The international group works to help families with children suffering from cerebral palsy afford costly medical treatments that aren’t covered under provincial health care plans.
One of the highlights of Saturday’s activities was the children’s friendship game, which was played by both, youth with special needs and youth without special needs, but with a twist. The game was adapted all the players were competing on a level playing field and able-bodied children got to walk a mile in a disabled child’s shoes.
Cerebral palsy affects individuals differently. At its mildest, it may result in a slight awkwardness and trouble with movements and hand control. At its most severe, it can cause a person to have absolutely no muscle control, affecting everything from movement and speech.
Denton Webster-Marles with his walker and his father, Steve, get ready to play ball.
More than 250 people turned out to learn about cerebral palsy and how it affects people.
Thank you kindly, to Daniel Perry from the Georgina Advocate for this article.
Daniel Perry suffered an acquired brain injury, (ABI), when he was 17 and now lives his each day of his life with severe left-sided weakness of his arm, leg and foot, balance troubles and significant memory troubles. He is currently studying jouralism at Sheridan college and while off school for the summer, writes for the Georgina Advocate.