A well-known Scotts Valley softball coach is on his way to Oregon with a mission to help disabled children and their families realize their dreams.
Dan Whitney, a longtime Scotts Valley resident, is moving with his wife, Candi, to Corvallis, Ore., where he will run Camp Attitude, a sports-centered camp for disabled youngsters.
Whitney, who broke his neck 11 years ago and remains partially disabled, has been an inspiration for many boys and girls in Scotts Valley as a coach and mentor.
Whitney got involved in Camp Attitude — which is about an hour outside Corvallis — several years ago, after the camp had nearly closed. He started talking at schools and churches, and “people really got behind it,” he said.
“We raise money all year to give scholarships to kids and their families,” Whitney said. “No one pays, the kids and their families, because there’s no discretionary income.”
A coach in Scotts Valley for the past several years, Whitney has impressed athletes on the baseball and softball field at Scotts Valley High School.
One example of that impact is Sigrid Holtrop, 14, whom Whitney coached on the local Trouble traveling softball team and who will play for Scotts Valley High School in the spring.
“He’s so encouraging,” Holtrop said. “He knows how to bring you up, and he knows what you’re going through.”
Holtrop was so inspired by Whitney’s plans, she said, that she devised her own fundraiser to collect money for the camp.
She has been selling entertainment coupon books all month and presented him with a check for $500 on Thursday, Dec. 22.
“I wanted to help donate money as a thank-you for him,” Holtrop said.
Whitney was delighted by the gift.
“That is so cool,” he said. “That’s a scholarship for one of our kids and their family.”
Whitney also praised Holtrop’s softball improvement over the past year.
“She’s phenomenal,” he said. “She’s Division I caliber, and she’s a freshman in high school. She just works so hard, it’s infectious.”
The coach’s advice for aspiring athletes is applicable to those of every skill level.
“Never give up,” Whitney said. “I had people along the way tell me I was not going to make it. They basically told me I wouldn’t breathe on my own.”
For information, or to contribute, visit www.campattitude.com.
