Marsha Garrison (left) was pleasantly surprsed when she saw former fellow
basketball referee Michael Cottrell (center) and his father John Cottrell show
up at the Y recently . The Cottrells brought with them another pleasant
surprise for Garrison, a $500 donaton to the Y’s Phase III expansion project to
build an indoor aquatics center.
‘Zero depth entry’
into a swimming pool may be a strange term to some people. But to Michael
Cottrell, who spends everyday of his life in a wheelchair, those three words define
opportunity. Zero depth entry means that
persons who face physical mobility challenges, such as Cottrell, can safely
enter a pool without having to use a lift apparatus. A zero depth entry starts
off level with the flooring around it and then slants slowly down into the water,
accommodating walkers and wheelchairs if necessary. The pool of the Twin Pike Family YMCA indoor
aquatics center, when built, will have a zero depth entry.
Recently on a busy
Saturday morning during this local Y’s youth basketball season, Cottrell, his
father John Cottrell and several family members visited the Twin Pike Family
YMCA facility. Even though watching
basketball is one of Michael’s favorite pasttimes, the Cottrells, who live near
Clarksville, MO, did not come to the Y that day intending to watch basketball
games. They had another purpose.
The past couple
of years the Cottrells have kept abreast of the fundraising efforts made by the
YMCA staff and volunteers. They knew of the progress being made to raise the dollars
needed to build the indoor aquatics center and they were moved to action. The
family was at the Twin Pike Family YMCA that morning to be a part of the
community’s efforts to make the indoor pool, with a zero depth entry, a reality.
Michael Cottrell had come to the Y with a check in hand.
Twin Pike Family YMCA Executive Director
Marsha Garrison was helping with the youth basketball program the Saturday Cottrell,
his father and other family members stopped by the facility. “Talk about an emotional moment,” said
Garrison, referring to her conversation with the Cottrells that day. “I saw Michael and John come into the gym and
I went over to speak with them. When
Michael, through his father, shared with me that he and his family wanted to
make a donation to the pool project, it was all I could do to keep from crying
in front of him. It is so humbling to
know our Y means so much to so many.”
Michael Cottrell
worked for the Y several years ago as a referee and umpire and used the
facilities to play basketball before he was injured in a hunting accident. The
addition of the pool, will enable the Twin Pike Family YMCA to offer Cottrell
and others with mobility issues the opportunity to enjoy some fun fitness
activities, said Garrison. She went on to say, “We are working hard to complete
the fundraising to build our indoor aquatics center. We remain positive that we
can achieve the grant challenge from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation by July
10, 2013. All contributions, big or small, make a difference in completing this
challenge grant.” By doing so, Garrison commented, the Twin Pike Family YMCA
will receive $500,000 from the Mabee Foundation. “That $500,000 grant will complete the
fundraising for the $3.85 million project,” she added. “And when the pool is built, I hope to see
Michael and his family taking full advantage of what the Y has to offer.”
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION about the Founders First 500 program or the
Phase Three Fundraising Campaign, please contact Twin Pike Family YMCA
Executive Director Marsha Garrison or Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare, Twin Pike
Family YMCA, 614 Kelly Lane, Louisiana, MO 63353, Phone: 573-754-4497.