Homepage

Syracuse Mets Swing for Health Syracuse Mets Swings for Health

By Cody Stokes

Cody Stokes: ANOTHER NIGHT OF BASEBALL, AND ANOTHER NIGHT SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY. NOW, FIRST PITCH IS ABOUT TO GO DOWN HERE AT N-B-T BANK STADIUM, BUT TONIGHT IS NOT JUST ABOUT BASEBALL. WE’RE CELEBRATING TACO TUESDAY AND WE CARE WEDNESDAY ON THE SAME NIGHT, WHERE THE METS RAISE MONEY FOR LOCAL CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. EVEN THIRTEEN YEAR OLD ANDREW ABRAMS REALIZES THE VALUE OF WE CARE WEDNESDAYS.

ANDREW ABRAMS – SYRACUSE METS FAN: “I think that it’s a different kind of outreach, it’s a different set of eyes that they’re getting these charities and stuff like that in front of, bringing it to the baseball games.”

Cody: ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS IS EMPOWER PARKINSON, WHICH FIGHTS THE SYMPTOMS OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE THROUGH EXERCISE.

PATRICK VANBEVEREN – EMPOWER PARKINSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: “It’s probably the strongest intervention.”

Cody: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PATRICK VANBEVEREN SAYS BOXING IS THE PERFECT WORKOUT FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM PARKINSON’S.

PATRICK VANBEVEREN – EMPOWER PARKINSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: “Everything that the disease is trying to take away from them, boxing challenges so that they hold onto it longer.”

Cody: THE OTHER IS CALLED SAFE SPACE ORGANIZATION, WHICH LOOKS TO EXPAND THE CONVERSATION ON MENTAL HEALTH. FOUNDER AND C-E-O TRACY DANDO SAYS SHE STARTED SAFE SPACE AFTER DEALING WITH HER OWN ISSUES.

TRACY DANDO – FOUNDER & CEO SAFE SPACE ORGANIZATION: “When I got back to Syracuse there was nothing here that supported me to continue. And so what I did was, the last time I came back, I built that. I took what worked in a treatment facility and brought it to a community level.”

Cody: AND YES… THE METS DEFEATED THE LEHIGH VALLEY IRONPIGS 8 TO 3. CODY STOKES… FOR NCC NEWS.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – The Syracuse Mets “We Care Wednesday” was celebrated a day early this week due to Education Day taking place on Wednesday.

Two nonprofit organizations partnered with the Mets on Tuesday: Empower Parkinson and Safe Space Organization.

Thirteen-year-old Andrew Abrams says it’s a great way to engage a new audience.

“I think that it’s a different kind of outreach, it’s a different set of eyes that they’re getting these charities and stuff like that in front of, bringing it to the baseball games,” Abrams said.

Empower Parkinson is an organization that aims to dampen the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease holistically. Their Rock Steady Boxing program helps Parkinson’s patients improve their physical and mental health.

“It’s probably the strongest intervention,” said Executive Director Patrick VanBeveren. “Everything that the disease is trying to take away from them, boxing challenges so that they hold onto it longer.”

Safe Space Organization wants to break the stigma associated with mental health. Founder and CEO Tracy Dando started the nonprofit after returning to Syracuse following her own mental battles.

“There was nothing here that supported me to continue. And so what I did was,” Dando said, “I built that. I took what worked in a treatment facility and brought it to a community level.”

The Mets will face the Lehigh Valley IronPigs Wednesday for the second of six games with themes including Education Day, Pride Night, and Little League Night.

Related Articles