September was a huge month for Purpose 2 Play. We talked to some of the most inspirational people imaginable, and thus, shattered our previous months pageview records.
Here are our top five stories from the month. They’re definitely worth another look.
5. Give A Kid A Dream Through Boxing at Gleason’s Gym
“They’re not bad kids at all. They’re not stupid kids. They don’t have the education that some of us have and they certainly don’t have the opportunities that some of us have. By mentoring them and by paying attention to them, it really puts them on the right path.” – Bruce Silverglade, owner of Gleason’s Gym
4. Team IMPACT Connects Sick Children with Student Athletes
“Tufts Women’s Basketball team had not won a single postseason game in school history until they signed Shannon Curley in 2013. Curley, a 12-year-old from Billerica, MA, is an acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivor. After Tufts “drafted” Curley and made her part of the team, they advanced to the NCAA division championships at their level.”
3. How Do You Raise a Sports Prodigy Who Is Also a Great Person? Consult with Jordan Spieth’s Mom.
“We wanted to make sure he didn’t focus on a ‘loner’ sport too early, because there’s a lot that can be learned from competing as a team. I think having that experience really grounds you and prepares you for other things in life beyond sports. I think, sometimes, when kids show an aptitude for golf at a young age, their parents push them into spending all of their time on that one sport. They get burnt out and they don’t have the opportunity to explore all the other things out there.” – Christine Spieth
2. Former Denver Bronco Tyrone Braxton Overcomes Drug Problem, Gets Master’s In Social Work
“Many kids live in communities where a lot of people put an emphasis on money and power,” Braxton said. “It doesn’t matter how you get it. These neighborhoods are where guys are selling drugs and driving around in nice cars. You have impressionable teenagers and kids who are like ‘Wow, I want to be like that.’” – Former Super Bowl winning safety Tyrone Braxton
1. Former Pro Skateboarder John Cardiel Keeps Moving After Spinal Cord Injury
“I was told by the doctors that I would never walk again and my response was ‘F that. I’m walking out of here.’ As a skateboarder, whenever somebody told me I couldn’t do something, it just made me want to do it even more. Learning to walk again was like accomplishing the biggest trick of my life.” – Skateboarding legend John Cardiel
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