Jan. 15, 2013
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Bronx, N.Y. -
Fordham softball held a very special ceremony on Tuesday night, as the Rams, in conjunction with TEAM IMPACT, adopted 14-year-old Bronx native Gloria Mateo as the newest addition to the Rams' family.
TEAM IMPACT is a New England based non-profit, serving kids facing life-threatening diseases by creating unparalleled team-based support. Through a colleague of head coach Bridget Orchard, TEAM IMPACT reached out to coach Orchard and her team, as a very good fit for Gloria and give her a new support group as a part of the Rams.
Gloria was born with malfunctioning kidneys, a heart ailment, and Papillo Syndrome, which affects a person's kidneys and eyes. She has overcome those obstacles and is currently finishing middle school in the South Bronx.
Gloria, along with her mother, Rosa, came to Rose Hill on Tuesday and was made an official part of the Fordham softball family by the entire team & coach Orchard in a special "signing day" ceremony.
"We are so excited to welcome Gloria to our softball family," said Orchard. "We are looking forward to getting to know her and for her to learn about us and our team. She is an incredible girl, whose strength is truly an inspiration to us."
Gloria then signed on with the Rams, and was presented with a signed ball from the team as well as a jersey from her new teammates, which included sophomore
Serena Moroukian.
"She has worked so hard to fight through everything and that's the mentality that we want to have," said Moroukian.
Following a team meal, the Rams brought Gloria to the team's locker room to show off her own locker.
"It feels overwhelming that they'll share a part of their life with me," said Gloria. "It feels like I'm actually part of the team."
"To be part of this team, to be part of this family, it's like we have new family, new friends," said Gloria's mother, Rosa.
For more information on TEAM IMPACT's efforts, the organization's website is at www.teamimpact.org.
