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Doug Keith
 As a parent, watching your child express joy creates an inexplicable feeling that will make you do anything to keep them happy and feeling good about themselves. Doug Keith is a parent who understands how being a father can lead you to literally ‘go the distance’ to provide a better life for your child. Doug and his wife Kathy’s found out their son Jimmy had intellectual disabilities when he was only four months-old. They contacted a friend involved with Special Olympics in Texas to learn more about the organization then they contacted Special Olympics Massachusetts. Keith set out to provide a better life for his son by getting him involved in their local Special Olympics program; he felt the organization could open doors in Jimmy’s life via sport. Keith became involved in the fundraising aspect of the organization by signing up for their annual Golf-A-Thon to help raise money for athlete’s training and competitions. Today, 12-years later, Keith has raised over $200,000 for Special Olympics Mass through his participation in annual fundraising events.
Jimmy and his dad are a great team. As Jimmy trains for different sporting competitions during the year, Doug stays in shape to participate in annual fundraisers. In 1998, Doug began golfing in SOMA’s annual tournament, he then started biking and raising money in the Ride with the Champions event and now he is cycling in the annual Rodman Ride. Doug is excited for the Rodman Ride due to the reputation it has for being a well-run event and the number of great causes it helps fund. His team, the Keith Crusaders, is comprised of close friends, colleagues, family and Jimmy, of course. The father and son team aim to raise around $40,000 for the fundraiser.
Kathy is also very involved in Special Olympics and started up the North Andover Crusaders basketball program four-years ago. It quickly grew to over 100 participants spread across four teams. The basketball program is a Unified Sport which enables Jimmy to play with his sisters, friends and others in the community. Unified basketball gives athletes like Jimmy a chance to bond with other players both on and off the court. It is also a real family affair with Kathy’s sister as one of the coaches. Kathy also organizes and runs the Field Day Games at the high school for the entire town.
Doug appreciates the world of opportunity Special Olympics has opened for Jimmy and the benefits in his life as a result of participating in sports training and competitions. He is dedicated to raising money for Special Olympics Mass to provide more athletes with opportunities like feeling sheer joy after they score a basket for the first time. Doug and Kathy are proud of Jimmy and his incredible accomplishments on and off the field. Watching Jimmy’s amazing smile as he dons his medals and wanting more kids with intellectual disabilities to feel this joy, keeps Doug motivated to train for fundraising events. To support the Keith Crusaders or to learn more about the Rodman Ride, please click here.
And to see a great story on Doug and Jimmy, click on over to WBZ TV’s website. http://wbztv.com/video/?id=79228@wbz.dayport.com
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