NAC Olympics & Kids Carnival Brings Fun To Sick Children

NEW YORK – An Olympics-style carnival is bringing together 800 kids with chronic illnesses and disabilities for a day of sports usually inaccessible to them.

The New Alternatives for Children Olympics and Kids Carnival at Asphalt Green on Saturday, June 29, offers sports including wheelchair basketball and soccer, obstacle courses and carnival games, with the assistance of more than 200 volunteers.

The event starts at 11:30 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m.

NAC is a foster care agency that serves New York City’s most vulnerable children. Every year, it cares for 2,100 children who are living in poverty, have experienced abuse and neglect, or have a severe disability or chronic illness.

Many of the children lived in hospitals since poverty prevented parents from caring for them at home. The NAC aims to instead provide long-term foster care placement with support from health and social services.

NAC Children eligible for adoption find families at a substantially higher rates – approximately 98% compared to the New York City average of 73.1% – the organization said.

The NAC Olympics aims to give the children time when they can take a break from medical care and focus on friendly competition and fun instead.

To attend the NAC Olympic & Kids Carnival, RSVP to Maya Kremen at mkremen@gettodemilly.com.