Montco Teen Determined To Make Baseball Accessible To Kids With Special Needs
By Chelsea Lacey-Mabe
HATBORO (CBS) -- Back in 2014, then 17-year-old Kevin Barron had an idea to bring a "Miracle Field" to Horsham as part of his senior project.
A miracle field is a rubberized material field that is accessible to players with special needs including those in walkers or wheelchairs.
"I started this project to build a miracle field after watching Horsham Little League's Challenger Program play a game one night and watching it just hit me right in the heart," said Barron. "I noticed how a child in a wheel chair was extremely limited to what she could do because of the field conditions and rain the previous day."
The first Horsham Miracle Field Tournament was held that August and the event helped raise $19,000 in just two months.
Barron has raised $85,000, as of August 4, 2016, and is inching closer to the $250,000 it will take to replace the field the Challenger teams currently play on.
Now away at college studying elementary education, the teen is still determined to make the field a reality. He prepped for two big tournaments this summer--the 3rd Annual Horsham Miracle Field Tournament on Thursday, August 4 to Sunday, August 7 and the 2nd Annual Adult Softball Tournament which took place on Saturday, July 30. The four-day event costs $450 per team with a 10-player minimum, while the softball tournament will cost players $30 each.
"Coming from someone who has had many opportunities to play baseball across the country, I am asking for the communities' help to raise money so any child can play baseball in a safe manner without any limitations," said Barron.
Those who want to get in on the friendly competition, wish to help sponsor the tournament or would like to donate an item for the event raffles can do so by emailing Kevin at miraclefieldchallenge@gmail.com. You can visit the website for more information.
