LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — From cheerleading to playing football, a Lancaster County organization is giving young adults with disabilities a chance to participate in the sport.
On Saturday mornings, you can find the Chuckie Magee Flag Football and Cheerleading League playing at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church in Lancaster County. The 3-year-old league gives adults 18 to 40 years old with physical or mental disabilities a chance to participate in the most popular sport at this time of the year.
"Seeing the joy [in] these kids is why we do it," said Randy Samuels, the program coordinator for the Chuckie Magee Flag Football and Cheerleading League. "We do it for them. We do it because these young adults want to play football. They love playing football."
Whether it's cheering or playing, the participant’s love for the game is evident.
"It's friendly competition. Everybody scores, everybody has fun, everybody cheers for each other. I just love it," said Sarah Miller, a flag football participant from Elizabethtown.
It's an inclusive opportunity to play and cheer, which the participant's parents have been long waiting for.
"There's not too many programs out there like this," said Darisa Brenneman, whose 28-year-old son Jared is in the program. "Just to see the joy in his face and him looking forward to it, it really makes me feel good, too."
"There's not a lot around for this age group to do after they're out of school," said Samuels. "Parents were ecstatic, we knew that parents wanted their kids out there playing."
However, not nearly as ecstatic as their kids, who are involved in the game they love.
"I’ve always loved football. I love to watch football. And I thought, this is a league for people with disabilities, why not try it out?" said Miller.
A sentiment its organizers hope will continue to grow and see even more numbers in coming years.
"We make sure they have fun. It's two hours of action-packed football," said Samuels. "We guarantee you'll have fun and you'll love it."