Dyslexia Advocacy, Ninja Warrior are Passions of MacDonald Middle School Student

It’s not every day a sixth grader sets out to raise $6,000 for an important cause, but it’s exactly what 11-year-old Tristin Martin is doing. The MacDonald Middle School student has dyslexia and has hosted fundraisers for the past two years to raise awareness and dollars for the learning difference. 

This year’s Dollars 4 Dyslexia Fundraising Open House is Saturday (Oct. 28) at Spartan Ninja Warrior in East Lansing (6075 N. Hagadorn) from 9 a.m. to 5:30 pm. The event invites the community to participate in eight one-hour obstacle course sessions. Proceeds from the event will go toward the Michigan Dyslexia Institute and Mark Trinity, LLC for education, resources and initiatives for those affected by dyslexia. 

The fundraiser for dyslexia is in its third year.

Tristin, whose parents Nichole Martin and Scott Martin are ninja coaches and help manage the East Lansing ninja program in partnership with Spartan Dance Center, spoke about how the event, now in its third year, came about. 

“I was thinking about how my dyslexia teachers were giving so much to help me that I wanted to give back to them, and make sure they could keep their businesses running and make sure they wouldn’t shut down,” she said. “I asked my parents if we could do a fundraiser, and they said yes. We ended up starting it and I ended up raising a lot of money, and we were able to give that money to them and they were able to get more people into the Dyslexia Institute that really needed it, and more people to help teach.”

Tristin’s mother, Nichole, said the event’s goal is to help bring awareness and provide other students with the same type of vital educational help Tristin has received in her dyslexia journey.

“I think the biggest thing for us is for people to understand that this fundraiser is going towards local kids in this area that are struggling with costs that are not covered by any type of insurance,” she said. “It’s staggering that one in five students have it [dyslexia]. So in a class of 30, you’ve got six kids that are not getting the education in a way that they understand.”

Although many dyslexic students are not learning using methods that would help them thrive in school, Nichole said the methods are also useful for neurotypical students. 

“The way that they actually teach kids with dyslexia doesn’t do a disservice to kids who are neurotypical who can read with regular methods, too,” she said. “It’s important to get it in schools and get these kids the help that they need. There are better ways for them to understand the English language, which is actually really hard.”

Through the Michigan Dyslexia Institute and Mark Trinity, LLC., Tristin has learned many techniques and exercises for reading and spelling. She works with her teachers reading books, doing word games and writing in cursive. 

“I’ve been learning how to write in cursive,” she said. “Cursive is actually easier for a dyslexic kid or adult to write. You don’t have to pick up your pencil, then write the next letter, pick up your pencil, and write the next letter. You can just go straight into it and keep writing fluently.”

With the help of these teachers outside of school, Tristin has been able to read a full chapter book by herself this year. She’s hoping this fundraiser can help provide additional help for other students so they too can reach their own goals.

What is ninja warrior training?

For those who’ve watched athletes compete on American Ninja Warrior on television and wanted to try it out, Spartan Ninja Warrior in East Lansing is the place for you. It’s where Tristin and many other athletes of all ages train and practice weekly on ninja warrior rigs, balance and hanging obstacles, and warped walls. They also host team-building events, birthday parties and special events, like this fundraiser. 

For the Martins – Nichole, Scott, older daughter Taylor and Tristin – ninja is a family affair. 

Tristin’s favorite part about training and competing nationally in ninja is the support and friendships she’s made in the sport. She also enjoys that the sport can be done in a variety of ways. 

“It’s fun how you can do an obstacle one way, but then someone can come in and do it a different way,” she said. “There’s 100 ways to do it, and you can always solve the problems in different ways. You can rely on other people you’ve met in ninja, and they can support you to find another way to do an obstacle.”

Nichole agrees participants can learn a lot from ninja, with positive effects beyond health and wellness. 

“There’s a lot of problem solving, collaboration and kids working together, cheering each other on,” she said. “There’s a lot of strength training. Ninja is a very humble sport, so you see a lot of kids fail and be encouraged to try again, to not be afraid to change the way you were approaching it – to think outside of the box.”

This young advocate is helping other young people understand dyslexia.

Recently, Tristin did a presentation at a local elementary school to teach second graders about dyslexia. Her advocacy has also inspired other organizations to take bigger steps in spreading the word about dyslexia. 

“Tristin was asked to be a speaker at Camp Starlight, part of Michigan Dyslexia Institute’s summer camp at Mystic Lake,” Nichole said. “By her being engaged and wanting to be an advocate, the Institute has taken a more assertive approach to awareness and getting information out there.”

The Dollars 4 Dyslexia open house event has already received support from local businesses that have donated gifts and items for giveaways. Small businesses including Groovy Donuts, Playmakers, Conquest Fitness, Pizza House, Buddies and Launch have all donated prizes. 

Athletes come to the event from all over the area, including Haslett, Okemos, DeWitt, Holt, and even Howell and Fenton, Nichole said. 

“This community doesn’t have anything else like ninja to offer to kids, and I think anytime they’re exposed to it, and there’s an opportunity to come back, they do. They tell their friends and siblings, cousins, and so forth,” she said. “The support has been amazing. It’s meant the world because it helps her continue to reach her goals and help other kids receive the same kind of help she’s gotten.”

Donations can be made in-person at the Dollars 4 Dyslexia event and online. Those hoping to attend the event can fill out the waiver and register online. 

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify Nichole Martin and Scott Martin’s involvement with the ninja program at the Spartan Dance Center. (Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, 9:19 a.m.)