NWA Hero -- Kristi Sixkiller

Each year, the Northwest Arkansas chapter of the American Red Cross accepts nominations for ordinary people who have done something extraordinary. The organization then honors those nominees at their annual Celebration of Heroes in April. This month, KNWA`s Alexa Hamblin will highlight just some of the folks who the Red Cross considers real heroes in Northwest Arkansas. The Northwest Arkansas chapter of the American Red Cross says a hero does not have to save a life, only to have made a difference -- tonight we meet a woman who is making a difference in the lives of dozens of special needs children who might otherwise never know the challenges and victories of team sports. Bailey reed is a fun-loving six-year-old like most any other little girl her age -- with a few exceptions. Mother Dessie Reed explains, "Bailey has Dandy-Walker, which is a cyst at the base of her brain, it`s the size of an orange, she also has hydrocephalous, and she has kidney issues." All these things would normally keep Bailey and kids like her on the sidelines, but thanks to an organization called Champs League and its founder, there are no benchwarmers here. "Just to watch these kids play, it`s amazing, they do things that we never thought that they would be able to do," Reed says. Kristi Sixkiller began Champs League in 2004, as a way to get physically and/or mentally challenged children involved in organized sports just like their friends and siblings. "In Champs League, we don`t turn down kids to participate," says Kristi Sixkiller. "We work with their abilities and we don`t have a box that says this is what it takes to be in Champs League." Besides softball, Champs League offers kids ages five to 17 sports experiences in bowling and kickball, as *well, each Spring and Fall. It`s hard to decide who appreciates Kristi`s efforts more... the special needs children or their parents. Champs Leaguer Nathan Ball says, "Kristi`s my favorite friend everyday, because she`s nice, she lets us play because she`s my friend... she let`s me come back to Champs League anyway." When asked how she feels when rounding out the bases and heading for home plate, Bailey Reed says, "Happy inside... because I love being happy." "She helps little kids know what they need to learn about sports, it`s a lot about growing up, and that`s a hero thing," Brian Cook says in reaction to learning his coach, Kristi, is being called a hero. Dessie Reed says the difference this organization makes in the kids` lives is immeasurable, "Champs League -- they would be different kids without it, with Champs League, they have just blossomed into... kids!" Kristi Sixkiller is currently campaigning for a special needs ball field in Northwest Arkansas for children with walkers, wheelchairs, and respiratory challenges. The field would be more like a basketball court, rather than a dirt field. The Northwest Arkansas chapter of the American Red Cross is where heroes are trained. If you know a hero you`d like to nominate, or if you would like to become a hero through training, click on the links above, where you can find out more about the American Red Cross and Champs League. For KNWA... Northwest Arkansas news... I`m Alexa Hamblin.