Sarasota Special Olympian Meets Red Sox During Spring Training

Rachel Crauwels of Sarasota was among several Florida Special Olympians who had a chance to meet Boston Red Sox players during a CVS Caremark baseball camp last week.

Crauwels was joined by more than 20 athletes from Special Olympics Florida to get a feel what it is like to be a Major League Baseball player when they took part in a CVS Caremark All Kids Can Baseball Camp during the Red Sox Spring Training in Fort Myers. All Kids Can is a CVS philanthropic program that focuses on helping children with disabilities learn, play and succeed in life.

The camp was a joint endeavor between Rhode Island-headquartered CVS Caremark.

At the CVS Caremark All Kids Can Baseball Camp, the athletes worked one-on-one in the batting cage with Boston Red Sox Hitting Coach Greg Colbrunn, took on-field batting practice with the coach, enjoyed lunch with Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster, had a team photo taken in front of the “Green Monster” with Coach Colbrunn, and received T-shirts, Red Sox baseball caps and baseballs, as well as a backpack filled with goodies tahnks to CVS Caremark.  

“We have had a great relationship with the Red Sox, and over the last eight years, we’ve been able to provide the batting camp experience at Fenway Park to more than a thousand kids from across New England,” said Eileen Howard Boone, senior vice president of corporate communications and community relations for CVS Caremark. “This year, we were thrilled to be able to extend this program to Spring Training, so Special Olympics Florida athletes could participate in what we believe is a magical day.”  

The athletes who participated in the CVS Caremark All Kids Can Baseball Camp are from Ave Maria, Cape Coral, Donnellon, Fort Myers, Naples, New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, Pinellas Park, Port Charlotte, Sarasota, Tarpon Springs and Venice. They ranged in age from six to 37.  

"This day brought athletes of all abilities playing on the field together, offering everyone involved life changing experiences," said Sherry Wheelock, president and CEO of Special Olympics Florida. "The support of CVS Caremark and the Boston Red Sox provided the Special Olympics Florida athletes who participated in this hitting clinic the power of sport, community, acceptance and inclusion, which reveals the champion in all of us."