League Offers Activity For Adults With Disabilities

Randy Samuels first heard of flag football for adults with disabilities during halftime of the professional football season championship. Later on, he heard from a parent of an adult with special needs who wanted to start a local league. He and Bev Magee, one of the founders of Aaron's Acres, began looking into the possibility. The league was ready to kick off when COVID-19 restrictions hit, delaying the start of play.

Now, the program, which is named the Chuckie Magee Flag Football and Cheerleading League after Bev's son, has partnered with Aaron's Acres, and play is due to start on Saturday, Aug. 20. Games and cheerleading will be held on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church, 54 N. Penryn Road, Manheim. The league is open to participants ages 21 to 40 with varying abilities and disabilities. "We will make sure that everyone gets to kick off and score a touchdown," said Samuels, co-founder and coach for the league. "We will have buddies for those who can't catch. (Buddies) can catch (the ball) for (players) and send them to the endzone."

Risa Paskoff, executive director of Aaron's Acres, concurred. "Everybody plays no matter what, and everybody can cheerlead," she said.

Chuckie was a camper with Aaron's Acres when the program was established in 1998. He was known for his happy face and warm embrace throughout the time he camped with Aaron's Acres. "If you knew Chuckie, you loved him," said Paskoff. "He was always smiling and always saying hi to everyone." Chuckie passed away in 2015 at the age of 23.

While the league was being organized, Samuels told his wife he wanted to name the program after Chuckie, but he did not tell Bev right away. He said that before connecting with Aaron's Acres, he and Bev began visiting nonprofits looking for a partner for the league. "The first one (we visited) asked for the name of the league," Samuels recalled. "When we got outside, I told her, 'I want to call it the Chuckie Magee Flag Football and Cheerleading League,'" said Samuels, who noted that Bev was reduced to tears to have her son honored in such a way.

So far, nearly 20 players and several cheerleaders have signed on with the league. Paskoff noted that volunteers age 15 and up are needed to help out and that sponsorship opportunities are available. Information for those wishing to participate in the league, volunteer, or sponsor the league is available at http://www.aaronsacres.org. Individuals who have questions about volunteering may email cmffl@ptd.net.

Aaron's Acres provides year-round recreational activities to children and adults in the greater Lancaster area. Paskoff noted that the flag football and cheerleading league is a natural extension of Aaron's Acres' programming for adults. "We have the same mission and desire (as the league) to provide these kinds of programs," she said.