Thirteen-year-old Justin Clemens loves baseball. Though born premature and covered with bruises after complications at birth, he’s more mature than most boys his age, has a great sense of humor and an outgoing personality.
Cerebral palsy may limit Justin’s use of his left arm and both legs, but he plays his favorite sport on the Montgomery Miracle League. With help from parents and coaches he swings at pitches and scoots to first base with his walker. “When he’s going for home, he feels like a million bucks“…
Baseball diamonds are mostly unplayable for people with wheelchairs and walkers. That’s why five years ago Diane Alford in Conyers, Ga., started the movement to fund parks to cater to kids and adults with physical challenges. Today there are 17 Miracle Leagues operating from Phoenix to Florida, New Jersey to Minnesota. Another 61 fields are in some phase of construction helping to fulfill Diane’s goal of 500 diamonds serving 1.3 million children.
The Miracle field surface is made up of a custom-designed, cushioned, synthetic turf to accommodate wheel chairs and walkers. The stadium restrooms are completely accessible to people with disabilities and the dugouts make it easy for wheelchairs to easily roll in and out.
Whether it’s autism or spina bifida, Down syndrome or blindness, the Miracle League is a “field of dreams” for kids and adults who want to be a part of America’s pastime. 
Their motto is “Every Child Deserves A Chance To Play Baseball,” but it takes a lot of time and money to keep the Miracle League up and running — even once the park is built. To help keep Justin and his teammates of Montgomery, Alabama, in the game, you can send a tax-deductible check made payable to The City of Montgomery Parks and Recreation Miracle League Field Project to the address below. Or make a donation online using Paypal or credit card to the national organization on their Donations page.
Parks and Recreation Department of Montgomery
Miracle League Fund
1010 Forest Avenue
Montgomery, Alabama 36106
(334) 300-1088 or (334) 201-0199
Or e-mail them
To find where Miracle Leagues are being built or to start a league in your community, please contact the national office at (770) 760-1933 or (770) 241-8694
or e-mail them