Over six years ago, Beth Gibson had her three-and-a-half-year-old son Will accompany her one day to her tennis practice. Her coach, Doug Rosario, showed an interest in teaching Will, a child with Down syndrome, how to play tennis. With Gibson’s permission, her son Will began fundamental training. After an Internet search, Gibson found very little on tennis programs for children with Down syndrome. She eventually discovered an academy that would hold a weekend event. Gibson partnered with the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio (DSACO) to find potential athletes. The weekend event inspired Gibson to start her own clinic for the children who attended. She took what she learned from the event, and one month later, she launched her own non-profit program – Buddy Up Tennis. She started with twelve athletes, six volunteers, and one coach. Since then, the Buddy Up Tennis program has expanded across the nation; Gibson currently manages the program’s twelve locations and continues to advance the program’s success.

Buddy Up Tennis consists of a ninety-minute fitness program that pairs individuals with Down syndrome with the program’s volunteers, called buddies. The pairs spend thirty minutes strengthening their bodies with exercises that will benefit the bodies of the children, and spend the last hour learning how to play tennis. Gibson spoke of her inspiration for the program and why the program means so much to the children.

“What we learned from [the weekend clinic] was that our families were really in need of a program designed specifically for kids with Down syndrome. We learned that our kids want to be part of a team, and that they want something ongoing. From there we created Buddy Up Tennis,” Gibson said.

Since her initial start in December 2008, Gibson’s endeavors have inspired many others in the Down syndrome community. In 2013, Akron resident Jen Towell helped to create the Akron chapter of the Buddy Up Tennis program. As Athlete Coordinator of the chapter, she works with the children with Down syndrome.

Taking participants from ages five and up, the Akron chapter practices at the Towpath Tennis Center. As its summer session comes to an end, the Akron chapter will take a hiatus and prepare for their fall clinics, in which Towell’s son Joey will finally get to participate. Towell voiced her excitement toward the program.

“Having a child who has Down syndrome, I was really excited about this opportunity for activity, and that he can participate in a sport that one with Down syndrome might not typically play,” Towell said.

Geetha Hiremath, the Buddy Coordinator of the Akron chapter, helps organize the volunteers. She explained that the Buddy Up Tennis program is her way of “giving back.”

Towell expressed that the whole idea behind the buddy-up system is to introduce people with Down syndrome to tennis, to give them a great place to exercise and to meet friends. Many sets of parents have told Buddy Up Tennis that their child would have never played tennis without the program, and have expressed their children’s love for athletics.

Gibson spoke of the dedication the athletes have to excelling in the program.

“Our athletes work far harder than anyone else I know. They will try and try and never give up, and they have a really good time doing it,” Gibson said.

Towell explained that the Buddy Up Tennis program has broken down some stereotypes about the capabilities of people with Down syndrome. She says that the participants have a great amount of athletic talent.

Gibson voiced the impact the program as well as the public’s willingness to the support the program has had on her.

“It is not something I started with an intent [to progress]. . . [It started] with one little boy, and now it is impacting thousands. I just want to keep being able to make a difference, and keep going. We are building upon the strong foundation that we started, and there are so many people who want to help. It shows how great it is when communities can come together, and how many good people there are out there who want to help,” Gibson said.

At the Akron chapter, Buddy Up Tennis costs fifteen dollars per clinic. Towell explained that the chapter wants the program to be accessible to all people who would benefit from it. They hold four sessions, one for each season.

Hiremath expressed that the program is expanding to many new locations.

The program will expand to South Bend, Indiana, on October 17; Lorain, Ohio, on October 31; and San Antonio, Texas, in March of 2016. Those interested in starting a chapter can contact Gibson at [email protected]. Others looking for volunteer work in the Akron area can contact Hiremath and Towell at [email protected].