This Inspiring Story Brought to You by Grape-Nuts

Disabled Athlete Scores a Big Win for Handicapped Competitors in Illinois

A Chicago-area swimmer rose to the challenge to fight rules that discriminated against disabled athletes. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts.

About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains. Nothing bothers Mary Kate Callahan. Now an active teen, Callahan’s life changed when she was 5 months old. A virus attacked her spinal cord and left her paralyzed from the waist down.   “I didn’t let that stop me,” Callahan says. Despite this challenge, she has accomplished more during the past few years than many do in a lifetime. Callahan visits schools and speaks to children about overcoming obstacles. She took third place in a triathlon. But her biggest success came in changing Illinois High School …

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Athletes With Disabilities Make History at ETHS This Weekend

Seven athletes from around Illinois will be among the first students with physical or visual impairments to swim at a state meet this year.

When 12-year-old Aaron Holzmueller watches the state swim meet at Evanston Township High School this weekend, he’ll be dreaming of racing in the event one day himself.  And that’s an incredible thing, says his mom, Birdy Holzmueller.  A seventh-grader at Dr. Bessie Rhodes Magnet School, Aaron has cerebral palsy, and swims and runs triathlons for several local teams. This weekend’s state swim meet is the first time physically and visually impaired athletes, like Aaron, will be able to compete and score points in their own division.  “For him to be on the team and feel on the team and contribute to the team by potentially earning points … that’s an incredible thing,” Holzmueller says.  Aaron will one day have a chance to compete at the state…

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Jennifer Fisher

9:41 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012

I couldn't agree more. Thanks for reading, Rhonda!   more ›