Well, I think spring is around the corner!  We sure are counting on it with several events coming up.  This spring we will be having a Play Day on March 20th at Millbrook Exchange Park and then the Swing into Spring Tournament in Wilmington on April 11th, followed by the Winston- Salem Adaptive Open on March 14 – 16th.  I hope you all are planning ahead to make these three events.  Please sign up on line!

In spite of the snow this week, Abilities Tennis, along with Western Wake Tennis, had a warm welcome Monday night, February, 23rd, at the Town of Cary awards banquet.  ATANC and WWTA were recognized as Cary’s Partner Organizations of the Year for their weekly Abilities Tennis clinics hosted at Cary Tennis Park.

The Abilities Tennis clinics started last spring as a way for Cary Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources department to help provide more adaptive programming for people with special needs.  In a partnership, Abilities Tennis provided the training, curriculum and equipment through grant monies provided by NC Tennis.  Western Wake’s,  Laura Weygandt organizes all the volunteers.  There are 2 pros who work with this clinic, Daniel Ebert and Reid Kinlaw.  There have been 55 volunteers to participate.  The clinics are available to 15 athletes and a wait list is fast approaching.

Watching these athletes grow in the sport of tennis has been exciting.  Seven of the 15 clinic participants played in the Annual Winter Chill at NC State University.  We are watching our mission being fulfilled through these athletes.  Via tennis, ATANC  provides exercise for the body, teaches tennis strategy to exercise the mind, and models patience and acceptance to further the social interactions of all our Abilities athletes.