Each year, Wellesley College hosts its annual Friends and Family Weekend on campus. This weekend serves as a homecoming event for sports and as a time for families to come visit and attend lectures and panels given by alumni and staff. The Wellesley softball team works hard to plan an alumni softball game which takes place during the weekend. Friends and families of current Wellesley Softball members as well as alumni of Wellesley Softball are welcome to attend and play. This event has been a long standing tradition within the softball program.

For the past five years, Wellesley College softball has had a special addition to their roster. Maeve Fleck, a seven year when she joined, has been a part of the Blue’s roster through Team IMPACT. Maeve is from Needham, Massachusetts. She enjoys dancing, riding her bike and swimming. 

Team IMPACT is a non-profit organization that strives to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of a team. This makes Fleck the longest standing member of the college’s softball team. A couple of weekends ago, Fleck participated in the alumnae softball game.

Fleck enjoys being part of the team by participating in many of the team’s games and events on and off the field. She attends practices and alumnae games as a supporter and goes out with the team to see movies and to trick-or-treat during Halloween time. 

“The alumni game this year was great,” commented sophomore Haley McMorrow. “We got to see old teammates and get a sense for the history of the program. Additionally our teammate Maeve Fleck, who we connected with through team IMPACT, was able to come out and support us! We love the time that we can spend with Maeve both at the field and during other events and treasure the connection we’ve built with her”

Fleck became a part of IMPACT because she has Spastic Quadriolegia, which is a form of Cerebral Palsy caused by brain injury prior to birth. While this condition affects all of the limbs in her body, she is mobile using a wheelchair or power-stander. Fleck completes weekly physical and occupational therapies in order to maintain her health.  Fleck will continue to participate on the Wellesley College softball team for the upcoming 2020 season.