Manheim Township October Is
Breast Cancer townlively.com
OCTOBER 11, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXIX • NO 20
Awareness Month
Whatever you do, don’t tell Dakota Nesbitt she can’t do something BY JEFF FALK
W
hy does she do it? Why does she compete so hard? Why does she excel at
sports? Because Dakota Nesbitt can. A third-grader at Bucher Elementary School, Dakota lives with a form of spina bifida. But that doesn’t stop the determined 8-year-old from doing the things she loves to do. In fact, it may even make her want to do them more. “I think for Dakota, she’s always been naturally competitive,” said Amanda Nesbitt, Dakota’s mom. “She never had the body to keep up. Everything she’s done, she’s always worked for. I don’t know if she knows anything else but to work hard.” Dakota competes in wheelchair track, wheelchair basketball and para-swimming. And she’s quite accomplished in all three pursuits.
A few months ago in Birmingham, Ala., Dakota captured five not three, not four, but five - gold medals at the 66th annual Hartford Nationals, sponsored by Move United. The event is the longest-running national sports championship for athletes with a physical, visual and/or intellectual disability. Dakota took top honors in her age group in the 60-meter race, the 100-meter race, the 200-meter race, the 400-meter race and the 800-meter race. “I did good,” said Dakota. “I got first places. But I always cheer for every kid in all of the races.” “She’s done a lot in life,” said Amanda of her daughter. “I think she just does it for the friendships. Every kid there has some sort of disability. No one there is saying, ‘She’s the girl in the wheelchair.’” When she was younger, Dakota always had a desire to keep up with everyone else, to be like other kids.
It was in September of 2021 when she was introduced to wheelchair and para-sports. “She can’t keep up with her peers,” said Amanda. “She works her butt off to keep up with them. But you can’t always be the strongest in the room. She deals with things other 8-year-olds don’t have to deal with.” “The first time she got into a basketball wheelchair was truly the first time she took off,” continued Amanda. “She went fast. It has been life changing for her.” “I have a bunch of medals in my room,” said Dakota. “I want to keep competing because then I can have more and more medals in my room. Then I can wake up every day and be proud of myself.” Because Dakota’s legs are partially paralyzed, she walks with braces and a limp. At a very young age, she learned how to make lemonade from lemons. See Dakota Nesbitt pg 4
Guide dogs in training are Puppies with a Purpose
Keeping the faith First online fundraiser for Kingdom causes planned
Since the fall of 2022, David Kieffer, president of the FaithfulGive board, has been preparing for the organization’s first online giving event to benefit organizations with a Christian mission that are active in Lancaster County. “We prayed and thought and designed and listened for a year,” said Kieffer of FaithfulGive’s five-member board and its organizational team. “Mostly we listened to what would serve various nonprofit leaders.” The result is a three-day online giving event, which will take place in October. More than 40 local
organizations have signed on to take part in the fundraiser, which will open just after midnight on Sunday, Oct. 15, and close at the end of the day on Tuesday, Oct. 17. To introduce the event, a breakfast will be held on Monday, Oct. 16, at Westminister Presbyterian Church, 2151 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, beginning at 7:30 a.m. In addition, a short celebration picnic will be held on Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. at Long’s Park. “There will be worship, celebration, and announcing prizes,” explained Kieffer. There is no cost to attend either event, but donations will be welcomed. Those wishing to attend either event may register at See FaithfulGive pg 2
BY JEFF FALK
The bond between humans and dogs is different from those that exist between any of God’s other creatures. Puppies with a Purpose harnesses that relationship and even puts it to the test. In association with Lancaster County 4-H, Puppies with a Purpose is a dog fostering program designed to prepare young canines for a life of serving people with visual impairments. Bred for service by The Seeing Eye of Morristown, N.J., the puppies live in the homes of Puppies with a Purpose members for about a year before receiving five months of professional training to become certified guide dogs. “Humans and dogs form that bond,” said Paula Cook, the leader of the Lancaster chapter of Puppies with a Purpose. “If that bond is there, it’s a mutual thing. That’s kind of how dogs are wired. With a personality of a dog, it’s a two-way street. That’s why people bond Cleona resident Nicola Soliday with Zinnia, with their pets. That’s why visually impaired people bond with their guide dogs.” the black Lab she is raising for The Seeing See Puppies pg 3
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Dakota Nesbitt competing at the Hartford Nationals in Birmingham, Ala.