As with many successful ventures, it started very simply, a mother realizing her young son was fascinated watching her play tennis. She knew it would take a lot for her son to join her on the court. Her solution? Buddy up with others who love the sport. With this idea, Beth Gibson founded Buddy Up Tennis Inc., a fitness-and-instruction program, designed to help aspiring tennis players with Down syndrome.
Buddy Up Tennis began in the summer of 2008 when Beth would take her then 3 ½ year old son, Will, to a local tennis and fitness club while she or her older son, Keegan, played tennis. Will was fascinated with the sport and some of the staff members at the fitness club volunteered to teach tennis to Will, who has Down syndrome. After doing some research for techniques for teaching tennis to children with Down syndrome, Beth and the volunteers realized that there was definitely a need for specific programs. Buddy Up Tennis is now recognized by the United States Tennis Association as the Adaptive Tennis Program of 2016. The program has grown nationwide and currently has 17 locations and there is a great demand to expand.
The birth of her son Will is the moment that best defines Beth. Shortly after he was born, the doctor told her that they thought that Will had Down syndrome. “At that time, I had to face something that I knew nothing about. But I also remembered my father telling me throughout my life that there wasn’t anything that we could not figure out and overcome. I decided then, I would play the hand that was dealt and I would figure out how to provide the best life possible for Will.”
Beth has received a lot of advice during her life but the message was always the same. “In preparation for our marriage, my minister told my husband and I to focus on the moment and not to get caught up in the details that can distract us. Shortly after my son Will was born, a friend who is also a parent of a child with Down syndrome, shared that I simply should spend time loving and holding my son. There was never a question that I would not, it was a question of my focus. I immediately became concerned with preparing for his future, from planning therapies 6 months away, signing him up for waivers that he would receive as an adult and more. Again, I was told to focus on the moment. I worked at Express for Michael Weiss who reminded us to ‘play the hand that we were dealt.’ So the message that I heard the most and try to follow is to embrace what you are given and give it your all. Focus on the moment and what is truly important and that is where you will find happiness.”
For more information about Buddy Up Tennis, please visit www.BuddyUpTennis.com