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10-year-old raises $50,000 for inclusive playground

Zeph wants all his friends to be able to play on the playground, so he started #RecessForAll, a fundraiser to make all playgrounds inclusive

Every child should be able to play on the playground and a 10-year-old believes that so strongly, he's dedicated his young life to making all playgrounds fully inclusive. 

Zeph Everson started his "recess for all" petition 10 months ago. Since then, he has raised $50,000 to make the playground at his elementary school wheelchair-friendly -- but he still has a long way to go. 

"Woodchips, I see swings, I see monkey bars," said Zeph Everson.

Looking at the playground at Arcado Elementry School, all he sees is what his friends who use wheelchairs can't do. 

"There is no ramp, once they get on there, they just sink in," Everson said. "If there was a ramp, there's still nothing for them to do."

So last year, he set out to change it. 

He started Recess For All, a fundraiser to make the playground inclusive.

RELATED: Local student starts 'Recess for all' campaign for inclusive playground

"He said, we need to fix this. And then didn't just say, let's let the grownups fix this. But he took the initiative to really go out and fund raise, meet people out in the community," said his school counselor, Ginny Wages.

Everson started a committee at his school, made up of other students who also want all of their friends to be able to play on the playground. 

"He continues to share his message, and chase his dream, and keep going! That's what I admire most," said school principal Penny Young. 

Over the past 10 months, he's worked tirelessly to raise money. 

He had lemonade stands, family nights, online petitions, and now he's taking his message to politicians in the area.

"He's been like, 'mom, there's a school board meeting, I need to go talk to these candidates who are running, I need to go to the city council meeting,'" said his mom, Annalise Everson.  

So far, his fundraiser has racked up $50,000, which seems like which a lot of money but it's not enough to renovate the entire playground. 

"I have to raise $250,000. It's a lot but it can be done," he said. 

What Everson has raised is enough to start phase one - so they are talking to playground contractors right now to see where they could start construction. 

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