Jun 3, 2006 7:17 pm US/Central
A Special Day At Bachman Lake
Physically Challenged Get Physical
16th Annual "Turning POINT"
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
It was a day when the disabled were able to take part in dozens of activities, including water sports. At least 300 people got the chance to try things others might take for granted.
It was no ordinary day at Bachman Lake in Dallas. It was full of courage and triumph as people of all ages reached out and relied on determination. It's part of Turning Point's 16th annual extravaganza – an event for the physically challenged. To you, some of these participants might look different, but to each other they are one and the same. And that's one of the goals of this event.
"Maybe our group can do something thatn an abled-bodied psychiatrist can't do. How can they tell you how you feel? But we could do a pretty good job," said Michael "Shorty" Powers of Turning Point.
A few hundred showed up and made a splash in water sports and other activities. Some empathetic volunteers guided participants, making dreams come true.
Parents say this event increased physical and mental strength. Said Brett Gardner, parent of one of the participants, "He goes out and tries different activities and wants to get more involved in things. It gives him a lot of hope and courage."
Courage is something that 14-year-old Shaydon Pitts, who's been bound to a wheelchair for several months, knows all about. "Try to be as normal as possible," she says, "because you're only a kid once." She's a daredevil who tried it all, and she refuses to let this obstacle define her.
"I just kind of figured that God did this to me for a reason," said Shaydon, "and He'll fix me when He's ready."
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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