Program Push Sports to Challenge Youth

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A Mid-South program is pushing athletes toward greatness.

The Mid-South Adaptive Sports and Recreation Program is the only Tennessee recipient to receive the Olympic Fund Grant.

The goal is to help athletes find their own strength and one day compete at the highest level.

The Mid-South Adaptive Sports and Recreation Program was founded by Tammy Bolen five years ago. She recently received a $5,000 grant to help her expand the program. She says her one goal is for athletes to push themselves to their own limit.

"They are competing against a true physical peer, so when they push themselves to go a little faster, a little harder or throw a little farther, they are an athlete," says Bolen.

Four of the programs participants are training for the upcoming 2009 National Paralympics.

Kathleen, 19, and Sydney, 14, both suffer from cerebral palsy. Collin, 16, suffers from Suthrograposis, a loss of the use of his legs, and Kate, 11, has Vater Syndrome, which affects her vision, hearing, balance and growth.

"There are time when it bugs me. Why won't my legs work right? But I get over it," says Sydney.

Kathleen and Collin will be competing in track with the use of a three-wheeled bike called a "Race Runner." Sydney and Kate will also run in track.

"You don't have to concentrate on pedal and back pedaling, sliding down," says Kathleen.

"The 100 is easy, I don't think about it, the 200 is not so easy," says Kate.

"I can compete against people like me," says Collin.

Unlike the Special Olympics, where most of the athletes are often mentally challenged, most of the athletes in this program are just like other teens except they're physically challenged."

Bolen says the organization is similar to a specialized piece of equipment needed to allow these athletes to participate in sports just like any other able-bodied athlete. The goal is to help them realize their own potential.

"You know if you push yourself you'll get stronger," says Sydney.

"I absolutely want them to view themselves as normal, and in that accept who they are and what they're capable of, and expecting more of themselves than they did before," says Bolen.

"If I were different according to everyone's standard, you know normal; it wouldn't be the same for me. I wouldn't be the same person," says Kathleen.

The 2009 National Paralympics starts July 25th in Saint Louis, MO.

For more information or to participate in Mid-South Adaptive Sports and Recreation Program call 355-6005.