Pocono News Section

Dodgeball Tournament Helps Injured Boy

Dodgeball Tournament Helps Injured Boy - Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 11:20PM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Saturday, Jan 30, 2010 @ 11:20pm EST
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY - Dodgeballs of fury flew Saturday at the Central Columbia High School Gym.

Team after team lined up to dodge, duck, dip and dive. They were all there for fun and some fund-raising to benefit a 12-year-old boy who's confined to a wheelchair.

"It's amazing. I was surprised how many people were here," said Amy Payne.

She took-in the action alongside her paralyzed nephew, Sam Brown. The boy's family says a bully repeatedly slammed Sammy into a wall in September at Central Columbia Middle School.

He was treated for back injures. Less than a month later he had to undergo surgery and ever since has been unable to walk. "Right now, he still has to go to physical therapy and occupational therapy up at Geisinger 4-times a week and then in a couple more weeks he'll be going back down to Bethlehem for more rehab," said Payne.

This dodgeball tournament marked the first time Sammy's been out in public since he's been out of the hospital. Among those who play was his cousin Scott Dennis -- just one of the cousins who teamed up with friends to compete.

"We're raising money for him and all he wants to do is walk again," said Dennis. "We keep giving him encouragement about it."

Doctors are not guaranteeing that Sammy will ever get out of a wheelchair. "They give us a 50-percent chance so we can't ask for much more," said Payne.

"And we just hope that he one day will be able to again," added Dennis.

This tournament helped raise funds for Sammy's mounting medical bills -- and just as important -- raise the spirits of a boy who someday will hopefully stand and walk once more.

Our own Jeremy Deebel took part in the tournament.