Chris Shaw, 32, has cerebral palsy but doesn’t let it get in the way of his love for basketball.  

“I breathe the sport,” said Shaw. “It helped me cope with my disabilities.” 

Shaw, who is from Wappingers Falls, is blind in one eye and has limited use of the right side of his body. 

He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was 2 years old and developed a love for basketball by the age of 5.  

“My mom always told me I could do whatever I want. She didn’t have limitations," he says. 

With the help of the Salvation Army in Beacon, Shaw is the type of coach and mentor that he says he needed as a kid.  

“There wasn’t a lot of people with my disability growing up so, I want to be an outlet for other people who have disabilities or those who do not have a disability,” said Shaw.  

Shaw volunteers to help run the nonprofit’s youth-to-adult basketball sports program for kids and adults who are disabled and abled.  

“Just because you look different doesn’t mean you can’t do something you’re passionate about. It doesn’t have to be sports. It could be anything.”  

For Shaw, it’s about finding purpose and giving back.  

The free basketball program is held Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

The Salvation Army in Beacon has several free programs for kids, adults, families and seniors.  

For more information, call 845-476-2530 or click here.