A limo experience to the stadium, an air-conditioned field to look at all the UT soccer sport and a photograph with the tallest gamers — 10-year-old Sloane Rainey’s dream day is probably not out of attain anymore.
Through the nationwide Dream on 3 Collegiate Program, company communications junior Madison Frain and enterprise junior Brad Siegel co-founded the UT Dream Team final yr to help native kids with life-altering conditions experience their sports goals. They shocked Sloane at Cabo Bob’s on Sept. 9 to announce her as this yr’s “dreamer.”
“I felt so excited I could barely even speak,” Sloane stated. “There were so many exciting feelings.”
The workforce consists of 30 college students, every working in a distinct subcommittee, akin to fundraising or planning. Each yr, the workforce selects one youngster from an inventory of candidates despatched by Dream on 3 as their “dreamer.” The workforce has deliberate one weekend occasion for Sloane’s dream sports experience and month-to-month hangouts. According to the Dream on 3 web site, kids have to be referred to this system by a healthcare supplier.
“(The Dream Team) was talking to me about different things, and I like that because I can answer one question and that can remind me of another,” Sloane stated. “They were all just wondering about me. That’s what made it awesome. Also, just the fact that they’re putting this together for me — nobody else, just me — it made me feel really happy.”
Sloane’s mother, Rebecca Rainey, stated Sloane, after being born 10 weeks early, skilled bleeding within the portion of the mind that controls motor operate. Rebecca stated docs later identified Sloane with cerebral palsy. Currently, Sloane’s cerebral palsy impacts her stability, muscle management and coordination, which she works to enhance by means of bodily remedy by sporting ankle-foot orthoses and sleeping with a knee immobilizer.
“I really do think Sloane is very special, and when you think about obstacles, kids Sloane’s age in elementary school are typically playing and socializing through physical activities,” Rebecca Rainey stated. “We want to find those outlets where Sloane can have a community, have support and do things that she loves.”
In addition to her massive dream, Sloane stated she desires to fulfill the cheerleaders and head soccer coach Steve Sarkisian, see the drone present and take a photograph with the cannon, the drum and Bevo.
“Sloane dreams big,” Siegel stated. “It definitely is motivating us to expand the scope of Dream on 3. I think it’s such a cool experience to have, especially for both of her parents, who went to UT, for them to be able to come back to campus.”
The Dream Team’s month-to-month hangouts with Sloane include occasions like jewellery making, ice cream runs and gingerbread home crafting.
“We are so lucky to be able to go to UT and to let someone like Sloane have an experience like a true Texas Longhorn,” Frain stated. “That’s why we always say we like to give them the joy of being a Texas Longhorn because, to us, there is no greater joy.”