Shaurya Bairaria may live in southern California, but his passion for helping others is strong enough to reach all across the globe.
The Canyon Crest Academy junior is using his personal experience with a sport-related injury and the setbacks that came with it to uplift others -specifically, those who want to play tennis but may not have the means to do so.
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
Bairaria told Heroes producer Heather Jordan it all started when he hurt his hamstring as an eighth grader, forcing him to miss nearly a year of playing competitive sports.
"It was the worst year of my life; I was so bored and so tired and was entering a depression," Bairaria said, but when he was able to get back on the court, he felt much better.
Through that experience, Bairaria decided if playing tennis brings him so much joy, "Why would I not be able to give other kids the chance to play when they deserve it so much more, too," he told Jordan.
Bhawna Bairaria
Bairaria started the local nonprofit "Tennis Without Borders" to provide equipment, coaching, and other resources to kids who cannot afford to play.
"You need to have enough money for coaches, rackets, shoes - all the equipment. It's a big reason most kids that want to play don't get into it. Every kid deserves a chance to play, and that's just really why I start our 'Tennis Without Borders,'" said Bairaria.
The nonprofit also supports a similar program in East Africa that another community hero runs in Uganda. Bairaria said, "He's trying to provide them with courts and equipment, and he actually made his own makeshift tennis court. So what we're doing to help him is sending him as many resources as he needs because it's very aligned with what our nonprofit is all about."
Ben Nteza
"I don't know who I would be if I didn't do I could to help give an equal playing ground to anyone who wanted it because I don't think it's fair that because of a background or an ethnicity or whatever, that people should not have a chance to play tennis."
Bairaria's dedication to ensuring children of all backgrounds have access to the sport he loves makes him our KNX Hero of the Week!
Check out all our KNX Heroes here.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
