| | My Fundraising Goal:
$10,000.00 | | | Money Raised to Date:
$2,185.00 |  |
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If you are unable to donate online, please print out a donation form. |
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| For more information on Best Buddies International, go to www.bestbuddies.org | | Join me in my efforts to support Best Buddies!
| It’s easy to call someone “retarded.” People unfortunately use that word all the time, without thinking.
Kids tease other kids without ever thinking about the hurt feelings they create. I bet everyone knows how painful it is to be teased, made fun of, called a name or just excluded.
My brother, Denny, is intellectually disabled. Growing up, he was just like any other kid. Denny went to regular high school. Although he took special classes and went a little slower than normal, he learned and played and socialized with everyone else.
He made friends and had good times, but it wasn’t easy. He came home one day and said, “Maureen, they called me retarded.” He knew it was a bad word, but he didn’t really know what it meant. With tears in his eyes and a worried look on his face, he asked, “What’s retarded?”
Kids used to whisper, “Look at the retard with Marcia.” Or some other variation that was equally cruel and insensitive. They were long gone when Denny turned to me and asked, “Am I different? Am I not a person?”
I’m not going to pretend that I was perfect or a saint. I wasn’t. Even though I was on TV and everyone thought Marcia Brady was perfect, she was make-believe, and I, the real-life teenager, struggled with all of the same problems and insecurities as anyone else. And at one time in my life I was actually embarrassed by Denny. To this day, I’m ashamed to admit that.
But I grew up. I got smarter. And I learned that everything Denny had to give was exactly what I needed – and that was love.
Most people like Denny, whether they’re 14 or 54 years-old, don’t have friends. Most can’t drive. They’re usually stuck at home, sitting in front of the TV or with nothing to do. They’re cut off and isolated.
That’s where you come into the picture. That’s where you can play a big role. And that’s how you can change someone’s life by making a donation or joining my team. You can be the difference in someone’s life… like my brother, Denny.
Best Buddies is the greatest thing you can ever do in your whole life. It changes you. It makes you feel better. When I’m with my brother, Denny, it’s my best day.
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