A degenerative disease known as Williams Syndrome makes it difficult for 13-year-old Lindsey Franco to participate in sports. But with help from the non-profit organization Team IMPACT, she’s getting the opportunity to be part of a college athletic program after officially signing with the Framingham State softball program on Friday, April 6.

As part of the program, Franco will join the team during games, practices and other team events throughout the year.

"This is a great opportunity for our program to make a difference,” says Rams Senior Captain Megan Downing. “It is more than just softball, it is a way for us to express our values and for our team to be great role models. We can really continue to push our program in a positive direction and we are so excited to have Lindsey join our FRAMily."
Joining Franco at the signing ceremony were her parents, brother, Rams Head Coach Larry Miller, team advocates Eleanor Callery, Kirsten Dick, Lauren Salisbury, Mycala Moody and the rest of 2018 softball team.

The Rams presented Franco with FSU apparel, a Rams bobble head, as well as a signed ball from the 2018 team to welcome her to the program. "We are so thrilled to welcome Lindsey to our FRAMily" said Miller. "Thank you to Team IMPACT and our institutional and athletic administration for their support. I am so fortunate to be surrounded with an incredible group of student-athletes and know they will be great teammates to Lindsey."

Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit headquartered in Boston, MA that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes. Since 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 1,400 children with more than 500 colleges and universities in 47 states, reaching over 50,000 participating student-athletes. The child joins the athletic team and the student-athletes join the child's support team. Throughout the journey, the child gains strength, camaraderie and support while the student-athletes experience lessons of courage, resiliency and perspective they can't learn in a classroom.