Brad Hennefer: One of a Kind Drive

When my producer Caroline Kovach brought me the idea to do a story on Brad Hennefer, I was immediately inspired. The New Jersey native is believed to have been the only U.S. high school athlete with Down Sydrome to play on a varsity team. The feeling magnified as soon as I began reading about this young man who beamed with confidence and determination. I knew we had to tell his story! It wasn't easy getting the resources and green light to make it happen but Caroline and I are pretty persistent...the only ladies in the sports office...you understand. Caroline set up interviews with Brad, his golf coach and teammates and drove a few hours to South Jersey to get Brad doing what he loves...play golf. Yesterday, Caroline, our photographer Bill Muller, editor Rich Marino and I won a NY Emmy for the piece we first aired May 2008.

Special thanks to Bill and Rich for their work and especially to Caroline. She is an amazing producer! This was HER piece from beginning to end; I only added some tweaks here and there and a voice, but this story could have spoken for itself. The biggest THANK YOU goes to Brad himself. I have used the now 20 year old young man as my own inspiration. He is someone we can all learn from and grow with each passing day. For more on Brad's Golf For Life organization, check out:

http://www.golfforlife.org/index.html

WATCH THE STORY AFTER THE JUMP...