With the assistance of Bremen Junior Woman’s Club, My Turn Sports League in Buchannan is looking to raise funds to help build the All-Abilities Adaptive Field for special needs and disabled children and adults to play in an accessible area. This specific fundraiser will feature a procession of Jeeps and other SUVs which will progress through Haralson County and end with a raffle drawing.
Here are the details:
Date: Saturday, August 10th, 2024
Time: 10:00 A. M.
Start and End: Bremen Ingles parking lot
Cost: $20 per vehicle in advance, $30 per vehicle day of event
Those interested in participating in the procession and raffle can register here.
Twenty community members and businesses have donated raffle prizes for participants to choose from. From a $50 gift card at Good Neighbor to two Braves tickets from Gradick Sports, this fundraiser looks to be a fun and exciting event.
Paul Mayes, founder of My Turn Sports League, began this baseball team long before any game. For almost a decade, he has watched as his two sons, one with special needs, and the other without, live two different lives. It pained him to see James, who is non-communicative, not be able to make the teams his brother plays on. A baseball player himself growing up, Paul understood the agony of sitting on the sidelines and decided he needed to take action.
“If James were to say something, I think he would say ‘It’s my turn,’ ” Paul says emphatically.
With a generous land donation from Haralson County and a growing number of area parents searching for a place where their child can experience team play, Paul has garnered not only a small baseball team, but also a support group of sorts for their parents. Knowing that these parents don’t need an explanation for why the children present the way they do comes as an enormous relief and encouragement to all.
So far, My Turn has had two games. The first one was last fall and this past one was in the spring.
Wesley O’Neal with James O’Neal Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Bremen, will be the title sponsor for the event. As a parent of a child with cerebral palsy, he understands the need for recreation areas for his child and others with different abilities. He grew up playing baseball as well and wants to be able to play the sport with his son in an area that can accommodate his wheelchair.
During the last game, Wesley witnessed the magic of My Turn’s teamwork come alive.
“Seeing the joy on the kids’ faces made me tear up several times,” Wesley admits. The tenderness he felt gave way to awe as he saw the children, parents, and even volunteers from Haralson County High School play as one on the field. Even the handful of children in wheelchairs were able to play. However, the funds raised will go toward creating a turf that will make it easier for them to mobilize on the field and in the park in general.
“For people to use their talents that God has given them to help others, that’s selfless; it takes all my words away,” Paul states.
Out of the thirty children a part of My Turn, about a handful are in wheelchairs. Both Paul and Wesley hope to see more children with different disabilities join the team and experience the thrill of their favorite sport, and they hope in the future they can form adult leagues as well.
The All-Abilities Adaptive Field Project needs massive community support to be possible. Donations of any amount are welcome. You can make a donation here.
A huge thanks to Dawn Cook and Amanda Mann with the Bremen Junior Woman’s Club for organizing this fundraiser. For those interested in joining them in raising funds for other local projects and charities, visit their website here.
For more information on this event, contact Dawn or Amanda via email: [email protected].
