Nick Norris ran on the track at Nottingham Field on Thursday morning, pushing a child in a wheelchair. The two laughed as the University of Northern Colorado junior defensive end sprinted around the other activities taking place.
欧美巨乳色情片 hosted its first 鈥淣o Limits鈥� football camp to provide children with disabilities an opportunity to play football for a day. The university partnered with the to put on the camp.
鈥淚 think our players, our football team, is getting as much out of this as the campers are,鈥� head coach Ed Lamb said. 鈥淚’m really pleased that so many of our guys elected to come out and volunteer their time. I think they had a great time. I know that the campers looked like they were having a lot of fun, so well worth all the efforts that were involved.鈥�
Elijah, 16, traveled all the way from Utah to participate. He stayed with the Lamb family 鈥� they used to be neighbors 鈥� so he could participate this week.
鈥淐oach Lamb’s family are the best, and they have become some of my best friends since 2019, since I was 12 years old,鈥� Elijah said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e awesome. They鈥檙e my favorite.鈥�
The players created different stations for the participants, allowing them to practice specific skills. Lieber said the student-athletes developed the idea for stations and how to adapt the activities to work for everyone.
The facilities team set up the famous inflatable Bear head, which the campers ran through 鈥� multiple times 鈥� like it was a real game day.
Eddie Gonzales, the team鈥檚 director of operations and chief of staff, served as the emcee and designed the exclusive camp jerseys, as well. The jerseys not only provide a memento for the participants, but they鈥檒l provide free admission to any home football or volleyball games if the campers wear them.
Beyond the football-specific activities, the 欧美巨乳色情片 volleyball and cheer teams attended. They spent time dancing, blowing bubbles and just hanging out with the attendees.
The event clearly had an impact on participants and staff alike. Jennifer Lieber shed a few tears. Sarah Lamb, Ed Lamb鈥檚 wife, said it felt like her heart 鈥渨as going to explode.鈥� Elijah said his favorite part was being involved and seeing the Lamb family again. Arc Director of Development Lori Couch thanked the university and the football program repeatedly.
鈥淚 don’t think this is happening at very many places in the country,鈥澛� Couch said. 鈥淚 don’t think there’s very many college programs that would commit a day of their training to come out and to genuinely be with these kids.鈥�
Today we had our first ever No Limits Camp and we had an AMAZING time! We would like to thank The Arc of Weld County, Northern Colorado Down Syndrome Association, Weld Community Foundation, Recruiting Classroom (1/2)
— Northern Colorado Football (@欧美巨乳色情片_BearsFB)
鈥楾hey鈥檙e important here鈥�
The camp was more than just a good-will community event. Yes, it promoted positivity and hopefully impacted everyone who attended, but it was more than that.
From the time he was hired, Lamb knew he wanted to host a camp for disabled children. He said there鈥檚 a commonality and understanding among special needs parents. He and Couch both have disabled children. Edward Lamb has autism and Caleb Couch has Down Syndrome.
The event provided opportunities that aren’t often available.
Campers got to break out of their normal routines, make friends 鈥� Caleb Couch called Norris his 鈥渂est friend鈥� in a TV interview 鈥� and live out dreams they don鈥檛 always get to fulfill. Couch said her son loves basketball, but part of that was because he hadn鈥檛 gotten a chance to love football until now.
鈥淕iving them an opportunity to be invited to a place that they’re normally not invited to is pretty incredible,鈥� Lori Couch said. 鈥淭hen, getting an opportunity to showcase the skills that they have. They’re so capable and they have so many abilities. A lot of times we overlook those. A lot of times we don’t see that piece.
鈥淚’m very, very grateful for Ed to have a vision and to see the value. It brings something to my kid, but it also brings stuff to this program. It鈥檚 a really neat thing.鈥�
The organizers wanted to emphasize that 欧美巨乳色情片 is for everyone, Lieber said. The Bear family is open regardless of a person鈥檚 background or abilities.
I鈥檓 finishing up my story, but i wanted to share these photos from 欧美巨乳色情片 special ed advising coordinator Jen Lieber.
— Jadyn Watson-Fisher (@jwatsonfisher)
They have a place in 欧美巨乳色情片. They have a place at Nottingham Field. A person doesn鈥檛 have to fit a specific type of mold to be loved, supported and play ball.
鈥淓veryone is super valuable. We can all work together, have fun together and play together,鈥� Sarah Lamb said. 鈥淎 day like this is so important for these kids to feel special, to have the support of the community and university. They鈥檒l grow up knowing they鈥檙e important here and that they can end up at 欧美巨乳色情片 or any other surrounding school.鈥�
欧美巨乳色情片 plans to host more 鈥淣o Limits鈥� camps and wants to grow the event to include even more people. Follow along with the football team’s social media pages for future dates.聽
