Winchester Senior Begins AWARE Program

Tim deRedon wanted to do something that he was passionate about. There were the basic community service projects that a number of students do for their Eagle Scout project, but deRedon wanted to try and something different.

So, on Saturday, Sep. 25, deRedon organized the first Annual Winchester Recreational Event (AWARE) day.

"I could have done something generic and maybe build something," said deRedon. "But I wanted to do something that meant something to me. And I've always been enthusiastic about the TOPPS soccer program, and I wanted to do something that means something to me. I love doing it and it was something I was passionate about."

DeRedon, a Winchester High School senior, organized the event, gathered volunteers and got the word out. Winchester children with disabilities and their parents arrived bright and early Saturday morning at Manchester Field to participate in a variety of different sports.

"I just thought this was an incredible idea," said Melinda Weber who worked with deRedon in the TOPPS program. "It was a real privilege to be a part of the community."

The TOPPS soccer program is open to children aged 5 – 19 with autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy or any other disability. Children with walkers or wheelchairs are also encouraged to participate. And deRedon's AWARE followed the same basic guidelines as the TOPPS program.

In all, there were about 10 children and 30 coaches to help them play soccer and teach some of the skills in deRedon's AWARE program.

Winchester resident Pam Woo had brought her seven-year-old son, Ben Ku, to the field. Ben suffers from a speech and language delay and originally did not want to attend the event. But once he was paired up with his buddy, another high school student, Chris Smith, he didn't want to leave.

"I though this was just great," Woo said. "When we first brought him he was real reluctant, but then he met Chris and he opened right up. He didn't want to go. We had a great time."

deRedon hopes that this will become an annual event, but for one day at least, it was an opportunity for some of these children who don't normally play team sports for a variety of different reasons have the opportunity to do so.

"This was just a fun, friendly event," Tim deRedon said. "I think this was just an awesome project for the kids and in the years to come hopefully it will be even more successful."