Central Maine Adaptive Sports offers year-round sports programs to children and adults with disabilities.
AUBURN, Maine — A nonprofit organization that assists hundreds of people with special needs in Maine can now provide exceptional athletes with more opportunities to compete.
Central Maine Adaptive Sports, located at Lost Valley Ski Resort, recently received a $20,000 donation from an unexpected benefactor. This donor was inspired by his cousin, who has been striving to achieve his dreams despite facing physical challenges.
Growing up, Cam Macri and his brother would travel from Massachusetts to spend time with their twin cousins, Zach and Travis, in western Maine.
“He would spend weeks here in the summer and they would always tube, and that was a big opportunity for them,” Paula enthused.
The brothers were born premature. Zach was able to compete in sports, but it was much more challenging for Travis who often watched from the sidelines.
“Travis has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and being legally blind, could not participate in the sports Zach and my brother could,” Cam explained.
Still, Paula and her husband Dan had Travis participate in adaptive skiing and other sports. A few years ago, he began playing sled hockey through Central Maine Adaptive Sports.
The program is led by Christy Gardner, a disabled Army sergeant who played for the U.S. Women’s National Sled Hockey team. Playing a sport he loves as a fan has given Travis a newfound sense of independence.
“Hockey is something he can do by himself which is another big part of it,” Paul said.
“Question: What do you like about hockey? What do you enjoy? The physicality, how I can go where I want to go,” Travis said with a smile.
The nonprofit offers year-round adaptive sports programs from sled hockey, skiing, track, kayaking, and cycling. It relies solely on donations, serving about 100 adults and children with special needs.
Meanwhile, Cam had started working at PSG Equity, a growth equity firm in Boston that partners with software and technology-enabled services companies.
The company holds an annual giving event where employees can compete for up to $50,000 for a nonprofit or cause they support. After getting the go-ahead from Travis and his family, last December, Cam pitched to the corporate selection team, and how CMAS has made sports accessible for Travis and others with intellectual and physical disabilities.
After the presentation, Paula got a call from Cam who was beyond excited.
“He called and said, ‘Look, I got ten thousand dollars and they said I did such a great job, I got another ten thousand for CMAS,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, my God!’” Paula exclaimed.
The nonprofit says the $20,000 is a godsend and will go a long way toward covering its $10,000 annual liability insurance and keeping registration and other fees at a lower cost.
“This donation ensures we will be open for two years, give or take, in these uncertain times,” Glenn Briggs, the nonprofit’s vice president, coach, and ski director said.
“There are a lot of kids that can’t afford to do sports, and this will help them a lot,” Regina Kahkonen, a CMAS board member and coach, said.
Cam recently came to Maine and played some hockey with his cousin Travis. He also met with grateful CMAS board members, participants, and their families. He is hopeful the donation will inspire others to donate and volunteer their time to CMAS to help make sports more accessible to people of all abilities.
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