VALDOSTA — Santa Claus made an early stop Thursday.

Players, their families and staff members of the Miracle League — a sports organization dedicated to athletes with disabilities — gathered to meet the jolly old elf and have fun at the Willis L. Miller Library.

For the first time, Miracle League threw a Christmas party for its participants, said Jeremy Davis, league president.

He expected 100-200 people to take part in the party. Food, movies and gifts were available, as were Santa and Homer, the league mascot.

The Miracle League’s local roots stretch back to the mid-2000s, but the organization really gained traction in 2013 with the formation of a governing board, Davis said.

Work on a Miracle League facility at Freedom Park began in March. The complex includes four standard baseball fields, a specialized field, a large pavilion, a concession stand and a boundless playground, where all children can play together regardless of level of ability. 

In total, the project costs approximately $5 million.

The first games for the new facility are expected to be played in March. Davis said the league plays six games in spring and six in fall.

Between 70-100 athletes play in any given season, and the league has about 150 volunteers, he said.

 

Terry Richards is senior reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times.