Gianluca Audia, 13, of Hanover, New Hampshire, has been volunteering in some capacity since the age of seven. This past April, he focused his skill and passion to benefit Buddy Up by organizing Swing Into Spring, a round-robin doubles tournament that was held at the River Valley Club. Buddy Up exists to afford individuals with Down syndrome the opportunity to learn the sport of tennis in a supportive environment, using a system of partnering athletes with Buddies as they are coached.
Audia was inspired the first time he viewed a video of paralympic champion Dylan Alcott winning a tennis match in a wheelchair, and the video got him to thinking. He felt strongly that everyone should be able to play tennis. Audia did some research and found Buddy Up, which, as he said, “seemed like a great organization.”
Audia is one of Cardigan Mountain Boarding School’s most reliable tennis players, and he has certainly used his skills for good! All registration fees and donations toward his event were donated to Buddy Up. Swing Into Spring raised nearly $5,000 in registration fees, contributions and a donation match of $1,000 from Hanover-based youth empowerment organization Positive Tracks. Thank you, Gianluca, for your amazing efforts!