NubAbility kids given VIP treatment by Cardinals, Billikens

The Du Quoin-based NubAbility Athletics Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation supporting children with limb differences, both congenital and amputee, spent this past Sunday and Monday in downtown St. Louis getting V.I.P. treatment from both the St. Louis Cardinals and Saint Louis University athletics.

The organization held one of their now-famous "#dontneed2" camps for limb-different kids at SLU, sponsored by the Cardinals, on Sunday. Over two dozen children from six different states attended, receiving one-on-one and group instruction from NubAbility coaches who, as founder Sam Kuhnert said, are "just like them."

"The kids were all thrilled with the camp," said Kuhnert, who himself played competitive baseball for Du Quoin High School, Greenville College and Morthland College. "We had a bunch of new campers come in, and they absolutely loved it. They loved not only competing but doing drills alongside kids just like them, taking instruction from coaches who are just like them. Parents said they'd never received better one-on-one instruction than they had at the camp."

It was more than just the typical NubAbility instructional camp, however. Attendees went through their drills and competitions on the fields at SLU, even getting a little help from Billiken athletes Macie Wheeler (softball) and Nicole Sniffen (volleyball) as well as head softball coach Christy Connoyer.

After the work was done at camp, it was time to just be kids. NubAbility athletes, coaches, and parents were given a VIP tour of Busch Stadium on Monday morning - throwing off bullpen mounds, taking a seat in the Cardinals' dugout, and walking on the same field as some of their baseball heroes.

Kuhnert said the connection with the Cardinals and Billikens dates back to a radio interview he did with River Radio's Tom Miller, host of the News Radio WJPF Morning Newswatch.

"He hooked us up with the Cardinals about two years ago," Kuhnert said. "We went and sat down with their vice president of marketing and sales and a couple other guys, and they wanted to jump on board and do what they could for us. Being so close to home, and with the Cardinals being my favorite team growing up, of course we wanted to want to work with them."

The campers also received free tickets to Monday night's game when the Cardinals took on the Minnesota Twins - another NubAbility partner. The Twins sponsored the organization's clinic in Fort Myers, Fla. last year.

Coaches at the St. Louis camp included Kuhnert (Du Quoin, IL), Kevin Crafton (Red Bud, IL), Scotty Byrnes (St. Louis, MO), Amber Snyder (NJ), Hayden Thompson (TX), Nick Stillwell (FL), Whitney Harris (FL), Ryan Hamner (FL), Joey East (KY) and Nick Palmer (MN).

Up next for NubAbility is their annual All Sport Summer Camp July 16-19 in Du Quoin. Coaches are expecting over 130 kids to attend, and the organization is currently seeking additional sponsors for the event.

For more information on NubAbility Athletics, visit their website at NubAbility.org or find them on Facebook.