Serve it UP!
Posted: 11/30/2011
CA Logo Tennis
Tennis for Autism
Akshay Damany was a 2011 graduate of Emmaus High School and named to the District 11 Boys Tennis Scholar-Athlete of 2011. He is now a member of our Club Tennis Team and is currently a freshmen at Lehigh. When Akshay was 16 years old, he was watching a Indian television show that was trying to bring awareness about Autism and how children that are afflicted with it are misunderstood. Akshay did some research and felt that he, with his tennis talents, could make a difference in the life of an autistic child. He started out with one young man and within several years, the number of children involved has grown. As a member of our club tennis team, Akshay brought is dream to Lehigh and his desire to help others has inspired other members of the team to join him on this journey. Although this program is only in the neo stages of life, Akshay has gained recognition from The White House for his charitable work with this program. The stimulating “Tennis for Austism” one hour clinics were held on two consecutive Sundays in September with teammates offering helping hands and racquets.. Other members of the club, Katherine Spevok, Erik Lillydahl, Steve Kurban, Fritz Kaelber, Adam Star, Ashley Thoet and Winters Gao assisted Akshay with this program. They had the ability to interact with the 10 children who came to the clinic and played a lot of great tennis with them! Although the children had a great time playing, our club members walked away with a feeling that was unmatched, teaching kids to enjoy a sport that they have a love for and watching the reaction of children who are learning to play the game…