10-year-old set to compete in Paralympics in Colorado Springs this month

CLEVELAND - Breanna Sprenger is just like every other 10-year-old, except for one thing. Breanna was born with one arm and no legs. But her disability hasn't stopped her from achieving dreams.

“I can do things in the water that I can’t do on land,” said 10-year-old Breanna Sprenger, a fifth grader at Avon Heritage Elementary School.

Breanna loves to swim, saying it takes her to another place. Her family is thankful to the community in Avon that came together holding a fundraiser for her.

“It was like a Super Bowl,” said David Wittschen, owner of Coleone’s Pizza and Ice Cream where the fundraiser was held. More than 600 pizzas were sold Wednesday between noon and 8 p.m. and 25 percent of the sales will go toward "Team Breanna."

"You know it’s amazing,” explained April Hanlon, who bought a pizza in support of the family who is trying to raise money to offset the cost of competing in the Jimi Flowers Classic Paralympics in Colorado Springs. “I didn’t even know that was possible and she is really an inspiration,” Hanlon continued.

The support is taking shape. “It makes me feel motivated,” Breanna said. “It makes me feel pumped up to swim. I’m ready to go fast. Make the turn at the wall and swim.”

The cost for Breanna to go to the Paralympics isn't cheap. It will run into the $5,000 range. Her family plans to leave on Feb. 23 and return four days later.

Breanna qualified to compete in her first-ever all-disabled swimming event.

“It’ll be awesome,” she said.

In addition to her disabilities, Breanna was born with incomplete veins along with a hole in her heart and brain.

John Sprenger, Breanna's father, said the outreach by the community has been great.

“My wife and I have been overwhelmed,” he said. “It’s just a big rush to see her compete against other children just like her. It makes her feel like an equal and it makes her feel like her own individual,” he told NewsChannel5 outside of her elementary school.

Breanna will be competing at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs -- the same place where Olympian Michael Phelps trained.

Breanna’s reach has gone far beyond the French Creek YMCA where she swims. It has been infectious thoughout Lorain County.

“She has brought other children that have similar disabilities, or who maybe thought they couldn’t swim, or who were afraid to swim into the pool,” John told us.

The YMCA where Breanna swims is now looking to start an adaptive aquatics program to help other children with disabilities.

If you would like to help the family, you can go into any Huntington Bank and make a donation to the "Team Breanna" account. You can also mail your donation to:

Team Breanna
P.O. Box 422
Avon, Ohio 44011

You can also follow Breanna on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TeamBreanna

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