Fairport Challenger Baseball

About four years ago I started volunteering at Fairport Challenger Baseball. It is a program that helps mentally and physically disabled children play baseball. Ever since I started pushing kids around the bases in their wheelchairs and guiding their hands as they swing the bat, my view of people with disabilities, and of my role to help them, has changed dramatically.

The one concept I have understood most is that every child needs and wants a friend. This is where the volunteers come in. With over forty disabled children participating in the Challenger program, it is essential that many students and family members come each Saturday to help out. It is truly a blessing to have so many eager volunteers participate, especially students from McQuaid Jesuit and Fairport High School.

We had a lot of fun this year and many great moments that we will remember – like Payton’s love of batting and trains; like Matt’s exciting cheers and pats on the back; like Daijon’s purple ring and his love affair with Michaela; like Kurtis’ home-runs and his proud rounding of the bases; like the dedication of “Challenger Field” during the last game at Fairport Little League; like the Challenger World Series at Frontier Field. And so much more…

Here are some pictures that captured these memories. The smiles on the children’s faces can really attest to the fun that we all had during this remarkable experience.