Meet Maxim, Flame of Hope Runner for the Special Olympics

David & Patti, Parents

Earlier this month, we ran with our 12-year old son, Maxim Singer ran in the Unified Relay for the Special Olympics. We were even featured on ABC 7 – click here to see us in action!

Maxim was born with Down Syndrome. While we were unsure how to manage this at first, his ability to love & make people laugh have made him an integral part in our community and we wouldn’t have it any other way. And his love for sports inspires us all.

Maxim loves to smile and is an outgoing youngster. He loves being outdoors and is an avid sportsman. He just finished his 4th season of little league baseball playing with typical kids. He has impressed everyone on how athletic he is. Any time you want to play, he is always up for a friendly game of baseball or just shooting a basketball with you.

Maxim not only enjoy sports, he is committed to them. Every week, Maxim attends a therapeutic gymnastics class that stimulates the body and the brain, which is key to a child with special needs. We have also worked with him on the game of tennis, swimming and he his competitive spirit shines through when he beats his friends at school playing handball.

When kids meet Maxim they tend to notice that there is something different about him, like his speech, the way he looks or how he runs. Sports has been a great connection because it kind of bridges those differences and helps children (both typical and non-typical) learn compassion for one another and how to embrace our differences.

This year was Maxim’s first time participating in the Special Olympics as a Flame of Hope Runner. The experience was life changing, and Maxim looks forward to competing in the Special Olympics when he gets older.