Lynchburg Living

Body

By Catherine Mosley

With the help of Jerry Skinner, a 6-year-old reels in an 8-inch catfish, his first catch of the night and a large one at that. “Oh my gosh,” he exclaims while running in place and waving his arms like a young bird ready to fly for the first time. This will be his first of six conquests on a balmy spring evening at a pond in Bedford County. Close to 60 participants and volunteers are scattered around the scenic pond, situated in the middle of rolling farmland. Some stand. Some are in wheelchairs. Most have big smiles on their faces.

A love of fishing is born tonight for this youngster who has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He runs to tell some of his friends about his conquest, giving and getting high fives along the way. This first foray into fishing will hopefully set the tone for a lifetime love of the sport. The following year when the fishing program begins, he’s still talking about that first catfish.
Moments and memories like this one are common through the Challenged Sports Exchange (CSE) program in Lynchburg.

“It’s all about fun,” co-founder James Monaghan said.

The program allows special needs children and adults in Central Virginia to experience the thrill of sports in a supportive, positive atmosphere. Founded 18 years ago by Monaghan and Mike Ion, the CSE now offers a year-round menu of sports and other activities.

“It’s therapy, hard work, but mostly fun,” Monaghan explained.
A vivacious 7-year-old named Jamie, confined to a wheelchair since birth, charmed Ion years ago. Cerebral Palsy constricted Jamie’s muscles and drew his head to the side, but the resolute boy was determined to join the peewee football team Ion coached. The boy’s speech was difficult to understand when the two first met, but Ion grew to understand Jamie, as did the other players on his team. His spirit and tenacity inspired them.
Ion and Monaghan first initiated a baseball team specifically for children with various disabilities based on a Little League of America program. That was the beginning of what is now a comprehensive 12-month program of sports activities for both disabled children and adults. Fishing, basketball, bowling and a hand bell choir are some of the other activities offered.
“Life is simple,” Monaghan said. “It’s people who complicate it. When we see that smile on a face, we know we are doing our job.”

Volunteers keep the program going and growing. Ion, Monaghan and other board members recruit individuals and local sports teams to help. Whether pitching to a batter, pushing a wheelchair across the basketball court or casting a fishing line, volunteers get as much from the program as the participants.

Skinner fished professionally in the late 90s and early 2000s. He learned about the CSE while eating lunch at Monaghan’s restaurant, El Cabrito’s on Timberlake Road. Skinner, David Dudley, Ray Arms and Robert Evans were inspired to start the CSE’s fishing program five years ago. From recruiting volunteers to getting gear donated, fishing has become one of the CSE’s most popular programs.

In addition to Terry Dobbins’ lake off 460 in Bedford County, the CSE has also fished for years at Dudley’s Spirit Lake off Leesville Road in Campbell County. Gear has been donated for the program by The Tackle Box in Lynchburg. Owners Marvin Ponton and his wife, Jean, not only supply the CSE with the rods and reels, they also supply all of the worms for the fishing program.
“I grew up with two cousins with Down Syndrome,” Skinner said. “I have always had a soft spot for people with mental and physical disabilities, and I like the way [CSE] runs the program–how they manage the participants and the money.”
To the participants and families on the receiving end of the program, all the time, effort and donations to make it happen means so much.
“We have lived in Montgomery County, Maryland and Northern Virginia,” parent volunteer, Toni Minor, said. “This is the first time Brett (Minor’s daughter) has had a year-round program of sports, arts and crafts. This complete program is very unique.”

Another mother, who wanted to remain anonymous, points out that the CSE’s benefits are just as great for parents.

“It’s a great opportunity for the kids to connect with others with disabilities so that they can realize that they aren’t all alone. The same thing is true for the parents…it allows kids with disabilities a chance to participate in sporting activities on their terms, not bogged down with so many rules and regulations,” she said. “It’s okay if someone runs the wrong way, or can’t run at all and has to be pushed. No one cares, because the goal isn’t to win or lose, but to have fun. Never have I seen a kid get laughed at or booed because of something they did, and the parents are all supportive as well.”

The CSE held its first annual “Advocate of the Year” dinner last October where the organization celebrated the legislative accomplishments of Shannon Valentine for her work done on behalf of children with autism. Valentine, who served in the Virginia General Assembly from 2006-2010, introduced the first comprehensive legislative study on autism in response to the delayed diagnosis of ASD in children living in Virginia.

“This study was about saving lives,” Valentine stated when the results were released in June 2009. “The purpose was to identify and provide services to our children and families that actually work.”

Valentine was again recognized by Commonwealth Autism Services on April 28 of this year because her work continues to serve as a template for improving autism services in Virginia.

As for the children who are now receiving the benefits of such research and programs like CSE, the results are impactful. But it’s those who volunteer their time who say they get the most out of their time with the children, be it on the water or on the field.

“Fishing has always been a way for me to forget about my problems,” one volunteer said. “When you see these kids and adults and some of the challenges they face, you realize just how lucky you are. This is really what life is all about.”

Learn more about the Challenged Sports Exchange by visiting www.challengedsportsexchange.com. For more information on the next “Advocate of the Year” dinner which will be held Saturday, October 16, at Lynchburg College, contact cseadvocatedinner@yahoo.com.