Debbie Loyd and Dave Runon had an idea for their son’s birthday.

Loyd and Runon asked their son, Julian Graham, if he would ask for donations instead of gifts this year.

“We had mentioned to him about asking for money to give to Miracle Field instead of gifts this year and he agreed,” Loyd said. “And he agreed and I was surprised.”

Graham donated $265 to the Troy Lions Club that was in turn donated to the effort to bring Miracle Field to Troy.

The 11-year old Graham, who himself has cerebral palsy, said his reasoning for donating the money is simple.

“I want to help the kids play baseball,” Graham said.

Graham has been playing baseball himself as a member of the Miracle League in Montgomery for the past three years and wants his friends here in Troy to be able to play the game he loves so much.

“He just loves sports,” Loyd said. “He watches them on TV all the time and he just wants to be able to play sports here in Troy. To me, it is wonderful that he donated that money because he wants lots of things and he is always asking for all kinds of things that 11-year-old boys want, but he sacrificed all that to help others.”

Loyd said Miracle Field coming to Troy will be a great thing for the Troy area.

“We have seen this organization help a lot of kids through the years,” she said.

Graham also participated in the Challengers Little League in California before his family moved to Alabama in 2004.

Loyd said the biggest moment in Julian’s battle with cerebral palsy came when he was able to ride on an adapted tricycle. He was always seen on the ball field with his bright orange walker, but he has been walking on his own for two years now.

“It was amazing when he began walking on his own,” Loyd said. “I have a video of the process he went through and when he got on the adapted tricycle that is when I knew he was going to be fine and he was going to be a normal kid.”

Graham is a fifth grader at Pike Liberal Arts School and he has a message for the girls in the Troy area.

“I want to tell all the girls to call me,” Graham said.