Getting away from the politics to write about a special helper

   Good evening folks. I decided tonight to not talk about issues. I decided to talk about a special boy who is helping me with my campaign. He is my nephew Daniel. He was born legally blind, Autistic and has cerebral palsy due to he and his twin brother Andrew being born months premature. Although he lives in West Roxbury, Daniel has been part of our community for quite some time. I'd like to take the time to talk about him and how he has inspired me.
   Daniel and his brother are both students at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown. I got Daniel into soccer at the age of 5 here. We tried him playing with regular kids with Dedham Youth Soccer and I volunteered to coach because I understood his problems and didn't want to burden the other coaches/parents. Unfortunately the boys were getting faster and with his lack of vision it was simply to dangerous for him to continue playing with regular boys. 
   Then one day I saw an ad in the Dedham Times 5 years ago that changed both of our lives for the better. It was for challenger soccer for special needs children. Park and Recreation Commissioner Sal Ledda was running this program. We went down there and although Sal really had no experience dealing with children with these various problems, he cared and that was more than enough as these kids were smiling, they were running and having fun and they felt accepted. I was hooked after this and Daniel loved it and made a friend for life in Sal. At the time I had just started coaching CYO basketball for St. Mary's parish and it made me think. If Sal could do something so great with this soccer program, why couldn't we do basketball for these kids as well. So I reached out to the Park and Rec Department and Dedham Youth Basketball and together we founded a Challenger Division for DYB which the Park and Rec and DYB co-sponsored.
   We started in the Oakdale school with about 8 players. Over the next few years the program evolved and became part of pathfinders. The special needs department within the park and rec department. We now have 20 players and just finished the 6th season. I'm proud of this more than anything else I ever did in life and I get to be inspired each week by Daniel and all his little friends and our awesome pathfinders staff. 
   I got back into running last year because of Daniel. I saw someone do his absolute best despite all the things that God didn't give him. It made me think that I've wasted those gifts that I was given for a very long time and I got my health back on track and got back into something I used to really love because of Daniel. 
   Daniel has been my inspiration on this run for Selectman. He's been at my side nearly every step of he way so far. Whenever I've been tired and wanted to call it a day I look at him and I push myself that much more. The speaking events are too late for him to be there, but he's always there to help bring a sign to a persons home, out meeting citizens in the square or other town locations or to hold a sign for me, my honorary campaign manager, by my side inspiring me every step of the way.
   Daniel and his family were recently part of a really touching story. As a matter of fact this was one of Susan Warnick's final news stories before retiring. They have been trying to raise money for an addition to their home in West Roxbury. 

http://www.wcvb.com/news/stranger-donations-help-repair-home-of-dad-with-disabled-twins/24700618

   Due to the kindness of so many including some really great folks from Dedham that addition is going to happen and Daniel and Andrew will have a home that they will have the room they need. I'm so happy for them and thankful to the many great folks that helped make it a reality.
   In closing I just wanted to thank the many folks I've met thus far for their kindness and to our great community for accepting Daniel and going the extra mile to have programs for all children with special needs. Because of Daniel and because of Dedhams' kindness towards him and my family I want the chance to go that extra mile for you by giving back to this town and to all of you by giving my absolute best to make things better in our town. We can have better if we want it bad enough. I would really appreciate one of your two votes on April 12th. If elected I know we can get on the path to being the best Dedham we can be! Thank you so very much.