Against The Odds

This guest post is from proud mom Alice who wrote us about her son Zack. Through Special Olympics, Zack has made many friends and learned important skills that have helped him succeed off the playing field.

My son Zachary is inspiring to everyone who knows him. Now in his late 20s, Zack has been part of Special Olympics since he was in middle school. Through training and competition, Zachary learned that, with hard work and practice, he could achieve anything he wanted. This drive and dedication spilled over into all areas of life, helping him to graduate from high school and to earn a degree from our local community college. His participation in Special Olympics also helped Zach to develop skills which have allowed him to be more independent and to hold a job. Thanks in part to these skills, he has been gainfully employed since 2001.

Zack continues to stay active — his current sports including bowling, basketball, soccer, and golf. His favorite is basketball and in the last couple of years he’s developed a sweet 3-point shot.

My son is so kind and compassionate and has more friends than anyone else I know. He has formed some incredibly strong bonds over the last 17 years, and I am certain that many of them will last for the rest of his life. In fact, it was through Special Olympics that he met Anna, the love of his life. They were married last April and are now living independently in an apartment.

Even though the odds were stacked against him, Zachary has accomplished everything he has set out to do in life and more. I am so proud of him!