Pattygrace Herzog and Me, Gretta Herzog

"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world!"

Here is a picture of my sister, Pattygrace and me at St Clare of Assisi Catholic School, my old school.   I was invited to speak to a couple of classrooms about the pageant and my platform.  It was a great day.  The kids were really excited to have us there.  Pattygrace really enjoyed it too.

Pattygrace is the inspiration for my platform, "Supporting Kids with Special Needs".  Pattygrace was born with a rare metabolic disorder called, GLUT-1 deficiency.  She is intellectually and physically delayed.  Although she faces a lot of challenges in life, she is very happy.  She is funny and loves to have fun.  What she loves most, is being around people.  Sometimes it is hard for her to be in a larger group setting.  So, she really appreciates the opportunity to be one-on-one with people.  That is why I am so excited about the Best Buddies International Organization. 

Best Buddies International knows how important it is for people like Pattygrace to have one-on-one friendships and they make it happen!  It only takes one person to make a huge difference in another person's life.  I have seen it. 

I started a lunch buddy program at my school, Battle Mountain High School.  I, along with some of my friends volunteered to have lunch a few times a week with Pattygrace and other students in her cognitive needs program.  It was a lot of fun.  Everyone loved it.  I can't wait to do it again next year and add more students.

I have also been fortunate to work with a local organization called, Small Champions.  They provide opportunities for kids like Pattygrace to participate in sports and activities with other kids, that they would not otherwise be able.  It is so much fun seeing the kids horseback ride, rock climb and do all the sorts of things kids in Colorado do and take for granted. 

I have had a lot of volunteer opportunities because of Pattygrace.  I am really grateful.