13-year-old gives gift of walking on her Bat Mitzvah

Thanks to 13-year-old Chapel Hill resident Madi Morris, two children will be treated with the Ponseti Method that their families otherwise couldn't afford.

Madi started playing soccer at age four and realizes now, at almost 14-years-old, how it has enriched her life. She's learned teamwork and commitment, made friends, and is healthy. Realizing the gifts that soccer had given her, Madi decided that for her Bat Mitzvah she would give as many children as possible to chance to play soccer. She did so through 3 avenues: coaching a Special Olympics soccer team, running a drive for soccer gear to be donated to teams in Haiti, and raising money for miraclefeet so that children could take their first steps towards an active life. "I know not everyone will want to play soccer," says Madi. "But knowing that they'd have the ability to walk and the chance to lead healthy lives was what is important."

Madi raised $500 for miraclefeet - enough to give the gift of walking to 2 children! What's more, Madi is just getting started. "At first I thought it would be so difficult, but then I realized that it's not that hard," she says. "I want to raise more money at my school."