TAMPA, Fla. — Regan O’Brian likes to see her gymnastics college students conquer a brand new ability.

“Oh it’s so gratifying, having the ability to see them make these enhancements, it’s so thrilling,” O’Brian stated.

She began teaching for CAN-DO Sports activities a few 12 months in the past.

The non-profit makes gymnastics extra reasonably priced for households who might not be capable to afford it in any other case. 

O’Brian is now giving again, teaching the subsequent era.

What You Want To Know

• In Tampa, a non revenue referred to as CAN-DO Sports activities has helped hundreds of youngsters and households. 
• CAN-DO consists of two amenities and a number of other sports activities, together with a dance program. 
• Gymnastics, softball, basketball, rowing and dance packages are provided. 

“It means a lot to me as a result of I used to do it so having the ability to share the love with that and be capable to construct it as much as what I used to like it as.”

As a senior, O’Brian is in her remaining 12 months competing. 

She began with CAN-DO at six years outdated and its taught her expertise far past gymnastics.

“I at all times need to hold going, I at all times need to do that and I feel, CAN-DO and the game of gymnastics helped me with that — you possibly can keep it up, you are able to do it, it doesn’t matter what occurs, you bought it,” O’Brian stated.

CAN-DO’s govt director, Mary Campanello has seen numerous athletes like O’Brian profit from this system, which started in 1993. 

“We’re actually capable of assist scholarship youngsters, we by no means flip a baby away that may’t afford it, we discover a manner to assist them, we’ve got plenty of volunteers that assist make our program profitable,” Campanello stated.

She is aware of first-hand how life-changing it may be, Campanello was as soon as a scholar herself. 

“Rising up, I’m the oldest of 5 siblings so discovering a aggressive and reasonably priced program was very tough on the time, our programming with our collaboration with town of Tampa permits us to supply aggressive and high quality packages for a 3rd of the price,” Campanello defined.

CAN-DO now consists of two amenities and a number of other sports activities, together with a dance program. 

“We grew from one gymnasium over at Wayne Papy to a different gymnasium over right here at New Tampa and now we provide different sports activities with our Workforce Tampa household with gymnastics, softball, basketball and rowing,” Campanello stated.

Making sports activities accessible to many households throughout Tampa Bay, and for a lot of athletes like O’Brian, it turns into part of their life ceaselessly. 

By way of teaching, she needs to verify everybody has the prospect she had.

“I hope that they at all times stay in love with gymnastics irrespective of the place their journey takes them, I hope they at all times discover their love with it, I hope they depart with having the perfect teammates on the planet, and having the perfect expertise they’ll as a result of I do know that’s what I’m leaving with,” O’Brian stated.

Because the identify suggests, CAN-DO is giving athletes confidence they’ll obtain their goals.