OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — On Saturday, March 9, the 33rd annual Sports for Kids Benefit Auction will be held at the DC Center in northwest Omaha. This event raises money for children with special needs and their families.
- The Sports for Kids Foundation raises money to support local and national organizations.
- Abigail Harvey attends the Junior Wheelchair Sports Recreation Camp, a free camp made possible in part by the Sports for Kids fundraiser.
- Tickets are still available and can be found at Sportsforkidsfoundation.com.
Broadcast transcript:
The Sports for Kids Foundation is preparing for its 33rd annual benefit auction. Besides a nice dinner and a chance to take home an autographed item, this event is about helping kids, kids like Abigail.
Seventh grader Abigail Harvey loves basketball, but it's not the only sport she participates in.
“I play wheelchair softball. I did wheelchair cross country at school this fall. I'm planning on doing track and field at school this spring,” Abigail said.
She was born with spina bifida, but she doesn't let it stop her from doing what she loves.
“It's kind of a family thing. Both of my brothers play a lot of sports, so I just wanted to have that opportunity as well as them.”
Every summer, Abigail attends a junior wheelchair sports and recreation camp. This camp is his week-long camp to introduce kids to different adaptive sports.
“It's a lot of fun. I get to be around people who have the same kind of disabilities as me.”
Since the camp is free, organizers receive an annual donation from the Sports for Kids Foundation to host the event.
Andy Tingwald, co-coordinator of the Sports for Kids Fundraiser, said: “When we see a smile on a face and see a family truly appreciate your gift, that's why we're here. That's why I'm here,” he said.
The foundation's mission is to help children with disabilities and their families escape the stresses of everyday life and be kids for a while.
“When you have a child like Abigail who has had over 30 surgeries, it costs a lot of money, so it's great to have an opportunity like this so we don't have to think of it as a burden and at the same time It's great that they don't take that privilege away from her either,'' said Sarah Harvey, Abigail's mother.
This camp is just one of several organizations that Sports for Kids donates to. Both locally and nationally.
This year's fundraiser aims to raise $75,000 so that children like Abigail can continue to have opportunities such as attending Junior Wheelchair Camp.
“So we actually recruited some guys from that camp to play wheelchair basketball for the team, which is pretty cool,” Abigail said.
The fundraiser will be held this Saturday from 5:30 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be found at Sportsforkidsfoundation.com.
