Cole's Story

The journey for a basketball player to make their first basket can feel like a long road. Just like every athlete’s first, making a basket requires hours of practice and determination. Cole started his journey to that milestone at the age of four when he was introduced to Turnstone.

Throughout his many years at Turnstone, Cole has collected many fond memories of the different services he was involved in. From playing in the Kimbrough Early Learning Center (KELC) and practicing skills with the therapy team to meeting new friends through wheelchair basketball, Cole has grown up at Turnstone. In KELC, Cole socialized with a diverse group of kids of all abilities and learned the fundamentals that set him up to become a successful student. His time in therapy taught him how to navigate and adapt to different situations. But most of all, Cole has done much of his personal development at Turnstone as a wheelchair basketball athlete.

Even as a toddler, Cole demonstrated a strong level of commitment to basketball. Wheelchair basketball became his passion, a sport that defied all limitations and grew his strong character. Turnstone's Sports and Rec Manager, Kevin, introduced Cole to basketball which started his successful athletic career and was the first step to making his first basket.

“I remember being new to coaching and seeing the potential in him at such a young age. I knew if he kept it up, then he would surpass all expectations, which he did,” said Kevin. Kevin acted as a mentor and coach, teaching Cole the fundamentals of basketball and encouraging him to challenge himself. “I used to pace with [Cole] in our Fort4Fitness training and at times I wasn’t sure who was pacing who. He would take the lead.”

After a few years of learning the basics and running drills, Cole finally made his first basket at 8 years old. Though it is his favorite Turnstone memory, Cole continued to build off of this moment, which led to many other notable achievements.

Now, as a teen, Cole has accomplished many milestones and is laying the foundation for a successful future. One of his proudest accomplishments is becoming a starting player on the wheelchair basketball team. Cole’s success at Turnstone has included earning countless All-Academic Conference Athlete titles; participating on numerous nationally recognized teams both on the prep and varsity level; and being a starting player for several years. Beyond the skills and titles, Cole also developed meaningful friendships with teammates and coaches.

“I have a lot of basketball teammates who helped me come out of my shell more. Kevin is a big one—he’s one of my go-to people for advice… whether it’s for basketball or for just daily life,” said Cole. “I am going to be driving soon so I asked him a lot about how to navigate in a car and how best to maneuver my chair.”

What started as a first basket, has turned into a successful athletic career filled with supportive friends. Cole’s determination and persistence continue to push him further in life—including his next big milestone of choosing a university that will support new and endless possibilities for the future. Thanks to our generous community of supporters, Turnstone remains a place for clients like Cole to discover their abilities and ignite their passions.

Your year-end gift will allow Turnstone to remain a place for clients like Cole to discover their abilities and ignite their passions. As 2023 comes to an end, don't miss your chance to make an impact on a client's limitless future.