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

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

She began teaching for CAN-DO Sports activities a couple of yr in the past.

The non-profit makes gymnastics extra reasonably priced for households who could not have the ability to afford it in any other case. 

O’Brian is now giving again, teaching the following technology.

What You Want To Know

• In Tampa, a non revenue referred to as CAN-DO Sports activities has helped 1000’s of youngsters and households. 
• CAN-DO contains two amenities and several other sports activities, together with a dance program. 
• Gymnastics, softball, basketball, rowing and dance applications are supplied. 

“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 have the ability to construct it as much as what I used to like it as.”

As a senior, O’Brian is in her last yr competing. 

She began with CAN-DO at six years outdated and its taught her abilities far past gymnastics.

“I all the time wish to maintain going, I all the time wish to do that and I believe, CAN-DO and the game of gymnastics helped me with that — you’ll be able to keep it up, you are able to do it, it doesn’t matter what occurs, you bought it,” O’Brian mentioned.

CAN-DO’s government 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 children, we by no means flip a baby away that may’t afford it, we discover a approach to assist them, we have now a number of volunteers that assist make our program profitable,” Campanello mentioned.

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 the town of Tampa permits us to supply aggressive and high quality applications for a 3rd of the associated fee,” Campanello defined.

CAN-DO now contains two amenities and several 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 Staff Tampa household with gymnastics, softball, basketball and rowing,” Campanello mentioned.

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 without end. 

By means of teaching, she needs to ensure everybody has the possibility she had.

“I hope that they all the time stay in love with gymnastics regardless of the place their journey takes them, I hope they all the time discover their love with it, I hope they go away with having the very best teammates on the planet, and having the very best expertise they will as a result of I do know that’s what I’m leaving with,” O’Brian mentioned.

Because the title suggests, CAN-DO is giving athletes confidence they will obtain their goals.