SPOKANE VALLEY - For six years, the Upward Basketball program in the Spokane Valley has been providing an opportunity for special needs kids to learn the game of basketball.
"This Upward Basketball program has been amazing," said Jeff Jones, the father of a Upward Basketball player. "Just the people that have been involved, getting our kids out here on the court and letting them feel like a team."
KXLY4 introduced you to this league four years ago. And things have been going well since.
"It's been great. We constantly grow," said Upward Basketbal coordinator Angie Cameron. "This year has been different, because I think the economy - people can't afford to do extra stuff. But we've had a great time. We can still give the kids more attention with a smaller group."
"I come out here and I see all these kids every year," said Jones. And the big smiles that are on those kids' faces - you pretty much can't leave without crying. And it's usually tears of joy."
The players in this league are used to having a lot of coaches on the floor with them. But last week, in the final game of the season, a surprise group of coaches showed up to lend a hand.
"It's something we've wanted since we've started, but didn't really know how to do it," said Cameron.
Six members of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, there for the community.
"I couldn't believe it. It was kind of a surprise," said Jones. "They're so tall."
"We kept it a surprise on purpose, because, obviously, they are great stars in this town and I didn't want all the neighborhood to be here. I wanted it to be for these kids," said Cameron.
"Steven gray and I talk about it all the time," said Zags center Robert Sacre. Like, 'how could we be a huge impact on someone's life?' And we are and you just have to take that in and be grateful for what we got. So we have to give back to the community."
The Zags could have shown up and waved and left. People would have been happy they even came. But in typical Zag fashion, they went above and beyond.
"These guys are their heroes and it's great to see them out there with our kids," said Jones.
"It's like just being a little kid again," said Sacre. "Being five years old again and having those little dreams and you can do whatever. And these kids feel like that and we want to be a part of that and we want to help them."
It took only a few hours for this group of Bulldogs to touch the lives of these athletes forever.
"These kids will never forget this," said Cameron. "This was as big of a thing as we could do for these kids, is to have that kind of attention from, they know these are Spokane's stars. So it's pretty awesome."
"I'm just grateful to be healthy. And these kids are grateful to be healthy. And that's all that matters," said Sacre. "It's not about basketball. It's about being healthy and happy and that's the biggest part in life."
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