Simple is Better – Making Athletics Available to EVERYONE – April Our Monthly Resolution

Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Strength. When we think of this word, we often associate it with someone who is physically strong. Who has immense physical abilities. Who amazes us with their physical prowess.

Actually, strength comes in many different ways. Maybe the person who actually is strong is the most unassuming person you might think of. Maybe the strong people in our world are those who have to work harder to accomplish something important to them. They have the fortitude, desire and commitment to work towards something that most other people would say is impossible.

It's the strength we find with adaptive fitness individuals.

These are the folks that our April Our Monthly Resolution organization serve. Dairyland Sports is committed to improve accessibility and quality of adaptive sports in the state of Wisconsin through support, education, advocacy, and programming for athletes with physical, visual, or intellectual disabilities. Dairyland Sports serves people with physical limitations. Or is blind. Maybe struggles. They advocates for the recognition and inclusion of adaptive athletes in Wisconsin and the Midwest and provide resources to support adaptive athletes as they pursue individual fitness and athletic goals.

Their work does not stop there. They provide educational opportunities for adaptive athletes, their families, health professionals and community members so all can experience the value of adaptive sports. Dairyland Sports sees itself as the one-stop-fits all organization for adaptive sports opportunities, resources and access. Trained PT and OT people are available for adaptive athletes to have access to.

Each May, Dairyland Sports sponsors Dairyland Games, Wisconsin’s first and only multi-sport competition for youth and adults with physical disabilities that is sanctioned by the national leader in para sports – Move United. Dairyland Games is Wisconsin’s premiere multi-sport competition offering the unique opportunity for adaptive/para athletes to qualify for Move United Nationals, the largest, long-standing annual multi-sport event in the United States for youth and adults with a physical, visual, and/or intellectual impairment who are classifiable under the International Paralympic Committee’s classification system. The Dairyland Games was originally established in 2016 to provide an opportunity for local Wisconsin athletes to compete and qualify for Move United Nationals, but the ultimate goal each year is to demonstrate the power of sport, build awareness, and improve accessibility to adaptive and para sports in Wisconsin and across the Midwest!

All funds raised through Our Monthly Resolution for Dairyland Sports will be ear tagged specifically for Dairyland Games to support their track and field events, swimming and power lifting events. This organization makes a huge difference for the people who need their services. We have an opportunity during the month of April to support the work they do.

How can we do this?

Go to their website donation page at https://www.dairylandsports.org/ and click on the blue Donate button.

Snail Mail: Dairyland Sports, PO Box 45736, Madison, WI 53744

If your employer will make a matching donation, their EIN is: 82-3718737.

Please indicate your donation as part of Our Monthly Resolution.

When people we know find themselves struggling physically, mentally or emotionally, we may question why this is happening to them. Jesus reminds us that God can use these situations for the glory of God’s kingdom. Honestly, I think the things that Dairyland Sports does is a way for us to see these situations being turned into a way for us to see how great things can and do happen within God’s kingdom.

Strength in God’s kingdom is not necessarily what we think of as strength. Actually, it’s really helpful for us to rethink strength more inline of God thinks it. For this encourages us to see strength as something we receive from God … and a way we grow as individuals.

Dairyland Sports is based in Wisconsin If you prefer to support a more local organization, I encourage you find a non-profit that helps adaptive athletes and support it during April.

Blessings –

Dianne

Holy God – Thank you for bringing people into people’s lives who may be somewhat limited in their abilities. May organizations like Dairyland Sport teach us how to speak with them. Interact with them. Love them and learn from them. Amen.

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Looking for a bit of daily inspiration? Check out my daily affirmation posts on Facebook and Instagram (Dianne Deaton Vielhuber and Simple Words of Faith.)

Attend one of my upcoming book events!

Sun., Apr. 12 – Emanuel Church, Baraboo, WI – sharing the message during the 8 AM and 10:30 AM worship services