Track Superstar!

This week Teddy participated in an inclusive track meet with myTEAM TRIUMPH and Xavier High school. This was the third year the event has been held, where the entire track team participates as angels for MTT captains. The meet consisted of different events, including 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters and different relays. No hurdles, though. I wonder why?

Teddy's team had 9 angels. Trust me, AJ counted, and he should know since he spent every possible moment with Teddy's team. There was time for the team to get to know Teddy and work on a sign to cheer for Teddy throughout the event. AJ helped them design the sign, sharing that his brother is kind of a tornado. AJ helped Teddy draw a tornado and then proceeded to add quite a few details to the team's poster. (Then he spent an equal amount of time explaining the poster to anyone who would listen.)

So proud of the sign he helped Teddy's team create!

This was such a fun event for the captains because they got to fly on the track. Normally MTT events are at least 3 miles if not 26 miles, so the pace isn't always that fast. This, on the other hand, was sprinting distances with a group of young, energetic and competitive angels.

Teddy almost always was looking behind his chair. Goof.

AJ enjoyed the entire event, cheering his heart out to the amusement of all the other parents around us. Teddy loved the attention from his team and only escaped once or twice. I basked in the glory of watching my kiddos in their element and enjoying the incredible experience.

We've done a number of events with MTT, each special in its own way. This was among my favorite, largely because of how much AJ enjoyed the event while being an incredibly supportive big brother. His only complaint when we left was, "I wish we had more time to play with the angels."

Team Teddy with their unofficial team manager AJ.

It's also so neat to see an entire team of high school athletes embracing captains with a variety of disabilities, including at least 4 captains who are non-verbal. Those who were angels for one young man who uses sign language were trying to understand his signs. I saw other young athletes discussing roller coasters with another captain. It's such a great, non-threatening way to embrace diversity and inclusion.

As an added bonus, Teddy was featured today with a half-page photo in the local paper, along with one of his angel athletes. Kid is a celebrity.