Student-athletes who welcome children with disabilities onto their teams say the program is also making a difference in their own lives.
“My involvement with Team Impact has made me realize that winning and losing games is trivial compared to what truly matters in life. It has inspired me to use my platform to inspire real change,” said Cam Mannion, a member of the hockey team and a Team Impact Fellow.
This is the eighth year Stonehill has been a part of Team Impact, which invites children with disabilities onto sports teams.
Team Impacts' mission is to create a safe and fun environment for the children and the teams to be able to build a relationship of belonging, empowerment, and resilience. They do this by matching children up with a sports team and having them sign a two-year contract with the team.
On Friday, Sept. 13, the men's soccer team, women’s soccer team, women’s hockey team, and women’s basketball team held a media day for their matches.
Continuing the experience each year for the athletes and the children goes beyond the playing field. It teaches the athletes that the power of sports lies not only in competition but in the approach to uplift and support others in the community.
The relationships created between the athletes and and their Team Impact matches are unforgettable.
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