It's wonderful when the community comes together for a good cause, especially when that cause is to help a young person from within our own community enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience. That is what is happening now in the case of Blakely Ward.

The Greenville Academy student has been selected to represent Alabama in the People to People Sports Ambassador program. This unique opportunity will take Blakely to Germany where he will learn, compete and make new friends with other students from around the globe.

But, like everything else in this world the trip will require money. The cost for students is $3,400 which will help pay for Blakely's plane ticket, hotel accommodations, several meals and traveling while in Germany. He also will need additional cash for some meals and spending money during his stay.

Family and friends have shown their support for Blakely by sponsoring several different fundraising events. They are currently selling pecans (which they gathered and shelled themselves), a spaghetti dinner is in the works for March and Blakely's church even came together for a yard sale to help raise money.

Some students, or even adults, never get an opportunity to travel overseas to witness and learn about other cultures first hand. This trip will offer Blakely a chance to grow and mature and, in the meantime it offers our community one more reason to join together to make things happen.