Youth Challenge celebrates 35 years with Homecoming

It was a great couple of days to catch up with old friends and make new ones at the Youth Challenge Alumni Homecoming Weekend, held Oct. 7 and 8 at Youth Challenge headquarters in Westlake.

Many people, including current and past participants and volunteers, staff and friends, gathered to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Youth Challenge at the homecoming dance Friday night and at a tailgate party on Saturday.

Youth Challenge (YC) is a non-profit organization that brings together children with physical disabilities and youth volunteers who enrich each other’s lives through one-on-one participation in adapted sports and recreational activities.

YC provides free year-round activities for 150 kids, ages 4 to 18, with physical disabilities such as muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and hearing or vision impairments.  A team of 400 teen volunteers, ages 12 to 18, are seasonally trained by professionals and peers to work with children with physical disabilities and are paired one-on-one with participants at each program. 

Over 180 programs, led by a team of professionals, are offered each year including basketball, baseball, swimming, skiing, tennis, karate, horseback riding, sailing, bowling, nature programs, dancing, arts and crafts, music and field trips.  There is also an 18 Up Club for Youth Challenge alumni.  Participants can get a ride to and from YC programs in one of seven lift-equipped vans.  In 2010, more than 5,700 rides were provided free of charge.

To learn more, visit youthchallengesports.com or call 440-892-1001.