Leave it better than you found it!

Below is a letter I wrote to parents who are doing an amazing job on a campaign for the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. The point was to use an important moment in my life to help them understand that they are doing something so much bigger than raising money. The money is important, of course, but the lesson is so much more valuable. #RiseByLiftingOthers

Dear Parents,

We ended today at $39,153, which is an increase of $5,048 since yesterday at this time. It is a total increase of $13,160 since Monday. OH MY GOODNESS! Kudos and Congrats to everyone for leaning in. 

You all are teaching your kids a very valuable lesson. You see, when I was at my first sport’s banquet at The University of Illinois to celebrate our season, I got to hear my Coach, Brad Hedrick, give a proper speech for the first time. It was clear that Brad prepared well and never met a microphone that he didn’t like (my kind of guy, by the way)! 

During his speech, I felt as though he was talking directly to me, and with tears in his eyes he said: “If you love what this sport has done for you, make sure you leave it better than you found it.” Maybe he was speaking to me. You see, that banquet was in April of 1996, and I had first met Brad in Chicago in December 1994 during my first season playing Wheelchair Basketball. He knew I was in a wheelchair because of a troubled past, but he took a bet on me. Although my grades couldn’t get me into Illinois, he helped me navigate 2 junior colleges and rejection from U of I to eventually gain admittance.

Maybe he was just telling us athletes what Dr. Tim Nugent (NWBA Founder) told him many years prior. That is what mentors and people who care for us do – they teach us. I knew that Brad’s tears were tears of gratitude; the game had truly changed his life, as well.

Now, in my current job, I have the privilege of meeting so many wheelchair basketball players around the country and the world. I usually find a way to include that same message in my conversations with them, sometimes with tears in my eyes. I would say that you all, through your actions on this campaign, are teaching your kids exactly that point. The best part, they are getting this lesson at a young age.

Thanks for all of your hard work, and your example! You are showing your kids the importance of giving to the sport and making sure they understand what “leave it better than you found it” means. As always, NWBA Leadership is grateful for that. 

3 days left to kick butt and take names on this campaign. Looking forward to seeing what we are able to accomplish together! Please reach out with any questions!

Thanks,

Will Waller

P.s. Here is a link to my fundraising page: https://nwba.salsalabs.org/ReturnToPlayFund/p/willwaller/index.html