{"id":8752,"date":"2025-08-21T15:26:32","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T19:26:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/?p=8752"},"modified":"2025-08-21T15:26:34","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T19:26:34","slug":"friendship-series-burt-alan-harvard-tennis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teamimpact.org\/about\/blog\/friendship-series-burt-alan-harvard-tennis\/","title":{"rendered":"Friendship Series: Burt & Alan, Harvard Tennis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When 10-year-old Burt joined the Harvard men\u2019s tennis team in March 2024, he quickly found a place where he belonged. Living with cerebral palsy hasn\u2019t slowed down Burt\u2019s passion for sports or his ability to inspire those around him. From cheering courtside in his favorite Harvard gear and homemade signs for his team to sending motivational messages and videos before matches, Burt has become a true teammate. In his eyes, the Harvard men\u2019s tennis team is invincible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team has embraced Burt just as much as he\u2019s embraced them. They\u2019ve celebrated holidays together at his house, kept in touch through email, and even taught him one of their most important lessons: \u201cIt\u2019s not about winning or losing, it\u2019s about the next point.\u201d With each interaction, Burt has grown as a teammate, sportsman, and tennis player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the heart of this bond is student-athlete Alan Yim, who became the driving force behind welcoming Burt into the Harvard men\u2019s tennis family, Burt\u2019s mom. Jordyne, said. \u201cR<\/strong><\/em>ather than take it easy as a <\/strong><\/em>s<\/strong><\/em>enior, <\/strong><\/em>Alan<\/strong><\/em> made a huge effort welcoming Burt onto the team right up until graduation, organizing events <\/strong><\/em>like <\/strong><\/em>stretching and hitting with the team, having Burt stand in the team area and even down on the court<\/strong><\/em>.<\/strong><\/em>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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