Saturday night, the Addy Grace Foundation has teamed up with Ballast Point Brewery in an effort to raise the last needed dollars for the all abilities, inclusive playground at the Botetourt Family YMCA that’s going up in Daleville.
James and Jennifer Garner hope the Addy Grace Foundation Casino Night raises the last dollars needed for the construction side of the playground that has been their family’s passion since their daughter Addison Grace was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy and they found a home for the playground at the new YMCA.
The foundation has under $100,000 left to raise of the $750,000 goal they set when they started planning the playground.
They’ve gotten great community support, and with the YMCA expected to be ready around the end of the year, getting the outside playground ready seems imminent.
Casino Night gets started at 6 p.m. at Ballast Point at Botetourt Center at Greenfield. Tickets are $50, and that includes dinner, play money and a beverage ticket.
“You can help us build the playground by having a great time at Casino Night,” James Garner said.
Tickets are available at the Addy Grace Fondation website at https://addygracefoundation.com/events/
Casino Night sponsors include Bank of Botetourt, Earth Movers, Virginia Mountain Mortgage, Custom Tool and Machine, WDBJ-7 and Down Syndrome Association of Roanoke.
Why an all abilities playground?
Children with disabilities often cannot play on a standard playground and therefore cannot take advantage of the amazing benefits that play provides, the Addy Grace Foundation website explains.
An all-abilities playground is a space that provides inclusive play opportunities for children of all ages and abilities. These types of playgrounds are designed to promote the healthy development of all children’s physical, social, cognitive and sensory abilities.
“This all-abilities playground in Daleville will give all children in the area the chance to play, grow and learn side-by-side.
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the No. 1 killer of infants and young children. There is no treatment and there is no cure. The degenerative genetic disease affects the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement, eventually hindering the ability to walk, stand, eat, speak, breathe and swallow.
The mind is never affected. An SMA patient has the ability to think, learn and build relationships.
The playground will be for the whole community, not just YMCA members. It will occupy approximately 8,500 square feet of space next to the Botetourt Family YMCA at Daleville Town Center, and will have about 30 playground activities.
