220 “Basketball power” children from different Lithuanian towns and villages participated in an event last Friday at the Žalgiris arena in Kaunas. Before the intense match between Vilnius “Lietuvos rytas” and Kaunas “Žalgiris” teams, one of Basketball Power participants, Donatas, shared his own life story with program’s boys and girls. The Kazickas Family Foundation president Jurate Kazickaite also gave youth a boost with a motivational speech right before the most impressive and most awaited Lithuanian basketball show. “Basketball Power” leader Arminas Vareika started the event by introducing what this project has done so far and motivated event’s participants with his own life story and showing the importance of doing something you truly enjoy. Then Basketball Power own student Donatas shared his moving story. His tough life has changed 4 years ago, just when he started attending “Basketball Power”. Many opportunities came up to participate at the camps, various events and to meet inspirational people. He also considers a possibility of having someone who you can ask for advice about the most important life choices is one of the biggest gifts program has to offer – he gets advice and help from program’s leader and his coach – Arminas. Not long after the inspirational and motivational speech of the Kazickas Family Foundation president Jūratė Kazickaitė, everyone rushed to watch the basketball match between the Lithuanian basketball grands Children were so excited before the match. Most of the young sportsmen have never seen a basketball match in real life before, especially in such a huge arena, that’s why it was a dream come true to many of them. One of them was Vadimas, who kept asking what is happening, why is there something flying around, or why are girls throwing things at the audience. Everything was new, extraordinary and incredible to this boy. When the match started, Vadimas passionately cheered for the Kaunas “Žalgiris” team and joined others fans chanting and dancing. Even after leaving the arena on the way home on the bus, he couldn’t contain his excitement and continued talking about what he just saw. Vadimas said that this was the best day of his life!