On Saturday, June 22, Regan Sinclair—the 13-year-old first baseman and pitcher for Fort Belvoir’s Rangers baseball team—hosted a “hit-a-thon” fundraiser for the Spondylitis Association of America at Fort Belvoir, VA. Players from local little leagues and travel baseball teams hit balls from a pitching machine or coach, and with the help of donors and sponsors raised nearly $4,000 for SAA. We asked Regan about the event and why he got involved.
SAA: What motivated you to plan this fundraiser?
RS: I’ve had pain since I was four and I am hopeful that one day there will be a cure or better treatments for people like me. I picked SAA to fundraise for because my doctor at the NIH recommended it. After we checked SAA out, we thought it was a good organization that is trying to help people.
SAA: What was the event like? How did it go?
RS: The event was a lot of fun! We had about 20 kids participate and raise funds. Our goal was $2,000 and we raised about $4,000. We are very excited that the fundraiser was so successful. I had a great time hanging out with the other guys that came to support our event. I thought it was really cool that a local bat maker donated a custom bat made just for this event. One of my teammates won it by having the farthest hit.
SAA: What tips do you have for others who are considering planning a fundraiser of their own?
RS: Anyone looking to host a fundraiser should start early and get good volunteers. You also want to reserve your location early.
SAA: What would you like the world to know about spondylitis, and the people who have it?
RS: I want people to know that even though I have spondylitis, I am just like any other kid. I like to play baseball and other sports with my friends. I just have to be a little more careful about not overworking myself.
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