Sport at its finest ... AccesSportAmerica

By Dean Warr

This article was written by Dean Warr on April 17, 2002 and it also appears on Sportsology.net at http://sportsology.net/article.php3?ArticleID=472

At its most ugly sports are futbol hooligans and Raiders' fan beating the hell out of an opposing fan. At its most ugly sports are teams' spilling out from their seats and engaging in a brawl. At its most ugly sports are bribery, scandals and fixing an outcome.

At its most beautiful sports are AccesSportAmerica (http://www.accessportamerica.org), phenomenal people accomplishing phenomenal feats. AccesSportAmerica puts smiles on the faces of every person they come into contact with. If you look, you can find people with hearts of gold and minds possessed with steely determination and courage. Look no further. This is AccesSportAmerica.

AccesSportAmerica adapts and teaches people of all ages with disabilities in high-challenge sports, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, rowing/sculling, water-skiing, cycling and soccer.

Rev. Ross Lilley, Executive Director, has been adapting and teaching High-Challenge water sports since 1984. He is the first person in the United States to adapt and teach windsurfing to people with disabilities. His son, Josh, who was born in 1985 with cerebral palsy, was the inspiration for AccesSportAmerica.

For the second year in a row Ross and his incredible crew came down to Florida from their Boston homes and put smiles on the faces of handicapped children, their parents, and the hard-working, affable and very in-tune staff of Leslie J. McKibben's therapists.

To describe the joy Ross brings is an injustice. Mere words simply cannot tell the happiness that you witness on people's faces, but I'll try.

Windsurfing Cece, an inspirational and incredibly intelligent little girl. A little girl that every jock with an attitude that belittles the less fortunate should be afforded the opportunity to meet. One minute with this child and I guarantee they will see life in a different perspective.

Cece is blind and gets around with the aid of a walker. She is inquisitive, quick-witted and beautiful. When she fell off the windsurf board she said, "This is like the Titanic!" She then corrected herself, "No! This is Survivor!"

The Craigster. An eight-year-old autistic boy with mitochondrial disease. He walks with the aid of a walker, but tires quickly. He conquered the windsurfing world on Saturday and Sunday and the smile on his face and his screeches of delight will last forever.

Cece and Craig were also participants last year and you could see the improvement from one year to the next. Even though they both did great last year!

A lot of the credit goes to those two children for working so hard and to the therapists who work with them, Miss Josie and Miss Jenn.

In fact, knowing Miss Josie and Miss Jenn, they're probably still out running, surfing, kayaking, canoeing, climbing a mountain, jumping out of an airplane or diving to the bottom of the ocean right now. And Miss Josie is four months pregnant!

The brainchild of Mr. Lilley is truly one of love, giving, hope and inspiration.

If you would love to see your loved one's display smiling faces that are immeasurable and indescribable, and hold a cherished memory in your heart forever, then get in contact with Ross.

It is truly a great and inspirational organization that deserves recognition for being an outstanding institution.

Donations to AccesSportAmerica or inquires on how to bring their unique and joy-giving gift to your loved ones is accessible at "info@accessportamerica" or "info@windsurf.org" or by calling (978) 264-0985 or writing Ross Lilley - Executive Director - AccesSportAmerica - 119 High St. - Acton, MA 01720.