CONTACT: Kristan M. Pelletier (518) 629-8063; k.pelletier@hvcc.edu
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009
The Hudson Valley Community College football program paid a special visit to the Burke Adams Special Needs Sports Program this past weekend. On Saturday, Feb. 21, the Viking football team went to the Rensselear Boys and Girls Club to meet and play basketball with the athletes who are members of the BASNSP. The team assisted the athletes, who face various physical and mental disabilities, with playing basketball and also spoke with them about their experiences playing football at Hudson Valley Community College.
The visit continues a partnership the football program has developed with the BASNSP. Parents and athletes who are members of the Burke Adams Special Needs Sports Program attended the Hudson Valley Community College football game when they hosted RPI JV on Oct. 19, 2008.
Photographs from Saturday's event will be available online at www.hvcc.edu/athletics/football/gallery/.
The BASNSP began in 1985 to develop sports programs for children with disabilities The organization was founded by Burke and Carol Adams, whose daughter Jaime, has Rett Syndrome. Even though Jaime is unable to walk, talk, or care for herself, Burke and Carol did not want their daughter, or other youth, to miss out on the experience of organized youth sports. As a result, the BASNSP was developed, and offers youth who are facing challenges similar to Jaime the opportunity to participate in organized football, soccer, basketball, baseball, and track and field. For more information, please visit their Web site at www.basnsp.com.