By Donna Wade
Every Saturday in the Spring and Fall, “miracles” happen! Founded in 2011, The Miracle League of Franklin County is a baseball league for children and adults with specials needs. Our field is located on the grounds of Long Mill Elementary School, 1737 Long Mill Road, Youngsville, North Carolina. The location of the field is central to Franklin, Vance, Granville and Warren counties!
The Miracle League removes the barriers that keep those with mental and physical disabilities off the baseball field and lets them experience the joy of America’s favorite pastime. To do this, Miracle League teams play on a custom-designed, rubberized turf field that accommodates wheelchairs and other assertive devices while helping to prevent injuries. Serving all counties, The Miracle League of Franklin County, brings the joy of baseball to children and adults of all abilities!
In addition to offering children of all abilities the chance to play baseball, the league provides a social outlet for players, a form of therapy for players’ parents and loved ones, and an overall rewarding experience for volunteers. It provides an opportunity for players to learn turn taking, socialization skills, baseball skills and dancing! This game setting mirrors that of a professional ball game with each player’s name as they are called to the plate, paired with a special walk out song picked by the player himself! So, if you want to hear a montage of Elvis, Journey, Black Eyed Peas, Luke Bryan and Kirk Franklin; The Miracle League of Franklin County is the place to be!
Our Buddy Program! This program is the very center of our organization! Every player is assigned a buddy to help each player. The buddy could help the player swing the bat, be guided to each base or simply be a social buddy around the bases. The bond between a player and buddy starts from the first meet and grows weekly as we strive to have the same buddy-player at each game. To be a buddy, one must be between the ages of 12 and 99! To learn more about our buddy program or volunteer, email miracleleaguefranklincounty@gmail.com.
To learn more about The Miracle League of Franklin County, visit www.MiracleLeagueOfFranklinCounty.org.
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Donna Wade is Executive Director of The Miracle League of Franklin County
