Paralympics 2021 - Help Larry's Dream Come True

American Record holder, Larry Sapp, needs his mom with him to be able to swim at the Paralympics in Tokyo. The US Olympic Committee doesn’t pay for chaperones, even for athletes with impairments. Please help us provide Larry with the support he needs to achieve his goals of medaling at the 2021 Paralympic Games. We’ve all seen the Mother’s Day advertisements depicting a professional athlete thanking his or her mom for all her sacrifices; the early mornings, long car trips, the expenses, and the tears. It takes a special kind of talent to become the best at a sport, but it also takes the support, determination, and belief of that athlete’s parents to make dreams become reality. This cannot be truer than for athletes with special needs. The Paralympics Games recognizes the enormous abilities of athletes with disabilities in 22 sports. For these athletes, the support they require goes far beyond pep talks and nutrition advice – they look toward their caregivers for basic needs. Because of this support along with their talent and their drive, these amazing athletes are able to climb to the very pinnacle of their sports. Lawrence (Larry) Sapp is one of these athletes. Competing with the US National Paralympic swim team since 2017, 19-year-old Larry recently set TWO American records at the US Paralympic Trials and qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Team. However, this is not the end of Larry's story. His mother and caregiver, Dee Sapp, isn’t part of the team. The US Olympic Committee (USOC) pays for the athletes to attend the games, but Larry needs his chaperone and caregiver to provide him with the care he needs while away from home. The US Olympic Committee cannot provide this, and Larry is expected to provide any additional services he requires on his own. Three weeks in Tokyo, travel, room and board; it is a financial Everest. With our help, Dee can be with Larry to help him achieve his Olympic dream.