Local Youth Gets Opportunity of a Lifetime
July 18, 2006
Orlando, Fla. – His mother may have done most of the talking, but don’t be fooled. Peter Rodriguez Jr. is excited. Prancing around the room clad in his Orlando Magic jersey, a sly smile spreads across six-year-old PJ’s face at any mention of the Magic. His mother looks on smiling, knowing her child is getting to do something he loves – play basketball – and that it could also be helping save his life.
This year, Orlando Magic players have purchased and donated 70 scholarships to Central Florida youth, the most in franchise history, allowing them to participate in the Orlando Magic youth basketball camps held throughout June and July. One of those recipients is Rodriguez. This is the second year that PJ has attended an Orlando Magic basketball camp on scholarship. He will be attending camp at the Magic’s practice facility July 24–28 at the RDV Sportsplex. While PJ’s favorite part of camp is working on his dribbling skills – he wants to be a guard like Carlos Arroyo – it isn’t his skills that are amazing, it’s the fact that he’s there at all.
At the age of two PJ was diagnosed with Leukemia. After undergoing three-and-a-half years of treatment, it’s finally in remission. And if PJ stays in remission until he’s 10, he’ll be considered cured of cancer.
Throughout this trial, doctors advised Candace, his mother, to keep her son as involved and active as possible. However, that commission turned into a financial challenge when she realized the steep prices of children’s sporting activities. “I try to keep him as active and healthy as possible, but it’s hard to do that when you’re a single mom,” said Candace.
The Orlando Magic youth scholarships, purchased by players like Arroyo, give PJ the opportunity to participate in the Orlando Magic youth basketball camps. Camp activities range from skills enhancement to live games, and he’ll also receive a ticket voucher for the first regular season home game of the 2006-07 season. Additionally, a Magic player will be visiting PJ’s camp to help teach the campers fundamentals and assist in drills.
While PJ’s excited about meeting another Magic player (he met Bo Outlaw last year) and improving his basketball skills, his mother appreciates the other aspects that the Magic camps develop, like self-esteem.
“That’s what we’re working on right now. He has a small learning curve due to the chemotherapy and it affects him in the classroom. So playing basketball and being around other kids in sports really helps his confidence,” said Candace. “He may act shy, but once he gets in the car he’s so excited to tell me about it, ‘I did this, and I did this.’”
It’s moments like those that make Candace appreciative. “Without these scholarships, he wouldn’t be able to do something that he likes to do. So as a mother, I’m thankful for that.”
Click here for more information on the Orlando Magic youth camps.
Orlando, Fla. – His mother may have done most of the talking, but don’t be fooled. Peter Rodriguez Jr. is excited. Prancing around the room clad in his Orlando Magic jersey, a sly smile spreads across six-year-old PJ’s face at any mention of the Magic. His mother looks on smiling, knowing her child is getting to do something he loves – play basketball – and that it could also be helping save his life.
This year, Orlando Magic players have purchased and donated 70 scholarships to Central Florida youth, the most in franchise history, allowing them to participate in the Orlando Magic youth basketball camps held throughout June and July. One of those recipients is Rodriguez. This is the second year that PJ has attended an Orlando Magic basketball camp on scholarship. He will be attending camp at the Magic’s practice facility July 24–28 at the RDV Sportsplex. While PJ’s favorite part of camp is working on his dribbling skills – he wants to be a guard like Carlos Arroyo – it isn’t his skills that are amazing, it’s the fact that he’s there at all.
At the age of two PJ was diagnosed with Leukemia. After undergoing three-and-a-half years of treatment, it’s finally in remission. And if PJ stays in remission until he’s 10, he’ll be considered cured of cancer.
Throughout this trial, doctors advised Candace, his mother, to keep her son as involved and active as possible. However, that commission turned into a financial challenge when she realized the steep prices of children’s sporting activities. “I try to keep him as active and healthy as possible, but it’s hard to do that when you’re a single mom,” said Candace.
The Orlando Magic youth scholarships, purchased by players like Arroyo, give PJ the opportunity to participate in the Orlando Magic youth basketball camps. Camp activities range from skills enhancement to live games, and he’ll also receive a ticket voucher for the first regular season home game of the 2006-07 season. Additionally, a Magic player will be visiting PJ’s camp to help teach the campers fundamentals and assist in drills.
While PJ’s excited about meeting another Magic player (he met Bo Outlaw last year) and improving his basketball skills, his mother appreciates the other aspects that the Magic camps develop, like self-esteem.
“That’s what we’re working on right now. He has a small learning curve due to the chemotherapy and it affects him in the classroom. So playing basketball and being around other kids in sports really helps his confidence,” said Candace. “He may act shy, but once he gets in the car he’s so excited to tell me about it, ‘I did this, and I did this.’”
It’s moments like those that make Candace appreciative. “Without these scholarships, he wouldn’t be able to do something that he likes to do. So as a mother, I’m thankful for that.”
Click here for more information on the Orlando Magic youth camps.
