I watched children work harder at a single hand movement than most of us work at anything - and do it with a smile.
What started as volunteering became something I couldn't walk away from. I sat beside kids learning to balance, to draw a straight line, to catch a ball, to be understood. I saw how much therapy, equipment, and encouragement matter - and how often money is the only thing standing between a child and the care they need.
So I started this - not just a personal project, but a promise: to raise awareness, to raise funds, and to make sure every dollar reaches a child who deserves the chance to move, play, and thrive.
Out of respect for their privacy, names and details are changed.
She moves with a walker, and ataxic Cerebral Palsy makes balance and coordination a daily challenge. On the court, we started simple together - just tapping a balloon back and forth. Then a forehand. Then a backhand with a real ball.
Little by little she found the rhythm, held a short conversation between swings, and kept trying. Every rally was a small victory in coordination - and in confidence.
I spent the most time with him - session after session of occupational and physical therapy. Stretching tight muscles, stacking blocks, drawing lines, pinching small objects, pedaling, zipping, placing colors in their spots. Each exercise builds toward something bigger: picking up a water bottle, wiping his own mouth, living more independently.
He's left-handed, so his therapist strengthens both arms. Music motivates him; applause makes him light up. And when words are hard, he uses an eye-gaze device - answering questions and finishing puzzles by looking at the right response.
Over the months, his cognition, focus, and hands all grew. He responds faster, tries harder, and doesn't give up. The change is real - and it comes from showing up, every single week.
On the baseball field, he's on the stronger end - walking, catching, throwing, and hitting, all while managing a vision impairment that makes the ball hard to track. He plays anyway, and he plays well.
Watching him taught me how far encouragement carries. For every child out there - whatever their type or severity - support and belief change what's possible.
Raising awareness and funds for children living with cerebral palsy. Every dollar supports research, education and community programming.