AVALON – Campers at Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children enjoyed an afternoon of soccer and song July 25, led by Avalon resident Kevin MacFarlane.
“Kevin is a former professional soccer player and shares his passion with the kids,” said camp director Emily Mulhern.
MacFarlane played Division 1 soccer in Scotland with the Albion Rovers, based outside of Glasgow. In the U.S., he played with various teams as a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League.
“I wanted each of the kids to experience the touch of the ball and the feel of scoring a goal,” said MacFarlane. “These children are physical angels on earth and very powerful to be around. We are blessed to have the beautiful Helen Diller Home,” he said.
Since 1972, Helen L. Diller Vacation Home, 127 26th St., has been providing visually-impaired children with an opportunity to spend a week at the beach. Campers range in age from 7 to 15, and often return year after year. The children form lifelong friendships and many make plans to return together the next year, said Mulhern.
Sami and Natasha Ishaq are visually-impaired siblings enjoying camp for their fifth year. Their younger brother, Idris, joined them this year as their guest for Sighted Sibling Week at the camp.
Sami wore a Manchester United soccer jersey, and is a big fan of the game. His sister, however, was a little hesitant at first, but MacFarlane quickly put her at ease.
“I’m not really a soccer player,” said Natasha, “but Kevin has a great attitude and he is really outgoing towards everybody. It didn’t matter if you could see well or not, everyone was equal.”
After the game, participants gathered in the shaded pavilion to enjoy a sing-along led by MacFarlane’s father, Gerry, and his cousin, Kevin Kelly.
Children and counselors clapped and listened enthusiastically to the engaging tunes while enjoying a lunch donated by Circle Pizza.
“This is fantastic,” said the older MacFarlane, strumming his guitar and gesturing towards the smiling faces of the children listening to him sing. “Doing this has made my day and it’s great being able to play with my nephew.”
“The kids love any kind of music,” said Anna Tellis, assistant director at the camp, “and it’s fun to see their reactions. It’s wonderful to have events like these for them.”
“Thank God Emily was open to me doing this soccer event,” said MacFarlane. “I hope to do it every year.
From mid-June through mid-August, the Diller home provides visually-impaired children with an expense-free vacation. The cost for each camper is $1,500, a funded through private donations and grants, said Mulhern.
The Fourth Annual Barefoot Ball fundraiser to benefit the camp will be held Sept. 6 at the Windrift.
“I’m really glad I came to Diller,” said Natasha. “It’s a place I call home.” Sami, standing beside her, nodded his head in agreement.
To contact Heather Burns, email hburns@cmcherald.com.
Del Haven – Timothy Snyder, award winning historian, author, and professor, explains that destroying a country requires undermining five key zones: "health, law, administration, defense, and intelligence….
