Unbreakable bond fuels brothers Luke 26 and Mark Radel 28 Syracuse University News

When do children learn empathy? How do they know someone is in pain or having a bad day?

From a young age, Mark Radel 28 always showed compassion for his peers. As a precocious 9-year-old, Mark (accompanied by the coaches) would rush onto the basketball court whenever someone was injured to report and lend a helping hand.

Luke Radel 26 says empathy is his brother's superpower. Mark is brimming with empathy, and he has a great ability to know when someone is having a bad day, and what he can do to help them through it, Luke says with a proud smile, and that trait will serve Mark well pursuing a career in sports and exercise science as an athletic trainer.

Mark's career ambition is supported by IncludingUan initiative of theTaishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education which sets a high standard among inclusive higher education programs, making higher education more accessible to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through individualized and inclusive courses, student-centered planning, internships, and social and extracurricular activities.

I want to help people. I enjoy learning about the body and how what we eat makes us strong, and when I graduate, I want to work as a coach with my football team, the Buffalo Bills, says Mark, a sports and exercise science major at the University who was born with Down syndrome.

While Luke (left) was attending Syracuse University, studying political science as well as broadcasting and digital journalism, Mark decided to follow in his brother's footsteps. (Photo by Chuck Wainwright)

An unbreakable bond

Mark's benevolent spirit helped Luke through his darkest days. While visiting colleges with his family in Boston, Massachusetts, Luke, an aspiring broadcast journalist, was out to dinner when he discovered his voice had left him. Luke realized there was a potential health problem and went to Massachusetts General Hospital for observation.

Within hours, doctors gave Luke their diagnosis: stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma. With his head spinning, Luke began undergoing chemotherapy sessions twice a month for six months, often lasting five or more hours per visit. What helped him through these difficult times?

Mark was by my side and his compassion was so helpful. Plus, he gives the best hugs. Every time I had a bad day, those hugs were just wonderful and changed my day, says Luke, whose cancer is in remission. Marks had quite a few health issues, and it was then that I realized what Mark overcomes every day to keep going, all the work he does to go to school and live his life. If he has to deal with that difficult situation every day, I can take care of my chemotherapy.

When Luke decided to attend Syracuse University and study political science in the Maxwell School for Citizenship and Public Affairs and broadcast and digital journalism in the SI Newhouse School of Public CommunicationsMark decided to follow in his brother's footsteps by signing up for and gaining access to InclusiveUs' highly competitive program.

Their unbreakable bond was further strengthened as roommates on campus. Luke helps Mark with his homework and meal preparation, and configures Mark's Google Maps app on his phone with the relevant directions Mark needs to get around campus every day.

Luke and Mark Radel during their shared class at Falk College. (Photo by Chuck Wainwright)

Mark is Mr. Independent on campus. He doesn't want to have to rely on someone else to help him get around campus. He has done a fantastic job of going through everything it takes to be a student, Luke says. I am very grateful to work at an institution like Syracuse, which always strives to ensure that everyone has access to the opportunities they need to succeed and feel welcome in these spaces.

Life-changing opportunities

From the moment Mark came into his life, Luke has embraced advocating for his brother and fought to ensure he had access to every opportunity possible. It is part of the genetic makeup of the Radel family. Their father, Patrick, was an attorney who helped people with intellectual and developmental disabilities enter their educational programs in elementary and middle schools, and their mother, Mary, founded a support group. the 21Clubthat raises awareness, provides education and connects parents of children born with Down syndrome with resources.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, which Luke says is the perfect time for members of the University to learn how people with Down Syndrome make valuable contributions to the University community.

People with Down syndrome are more similar than they are different from us. Mark needs to be in an environment that pushes him outside his comfort zone and pushes the boundaries of what a person with Down syndrome can achieve, says Luke. You help Mark by interacting with him, but you also help yourself gain a better understanding of how people with Down syndrome see and interact with the world around them.

Inspired to become a broadcast journalist through his efforts to advocate on Mark's behalf, Luke has built an impressive portfolio as a broadcast journalist, recently covering both the Republican and Democratic national conventions and serving as a reporter. multimedia journalist for WKTV in Utica, New York.

Luke hopes to use his dual degrees to continue telling impactful stories that make a difference, including his brother's inspiring journey to Syracuse University.

When Mark received his acceptance letter to InclusiveU, I cried tears of joy. “I was so excited for him, and I loved being able to share in the Syracuse University journey with Mark,” Luke says.

I always wanted to go to college, and it was great to be here with my brother. This experience changed my life, says Mark.

Sport as a connecting force

Mark Radel has been a lifelong sports fan and enjoys competing on the Special Olympics Unified Sports club basketball team on campus. (Photo by Chuck Wainwright)

The ping-pong table in the lounge of Luke's off-campus apartment complex gets a good workout on Tuesday morning before they both have a class at the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. Good-natured comments fly back and forth when a point is scored. Their friendlies, usually a best two-for-three affair, offer insight into their dynamics.

It's fun to play sports and I like to learn new things while I play, says Mark. And I like beating Luke. We always have fun when we play.

Oh yeah, this is always fun when we play [table tennis]. Mark enjoys watching and playing sports because it is exciting and fun for him, and it is a great way to stay active and also be part of a team and a community. Mark loves being around people, Luke adds.

Outside of their siblings' table tennis showdowns, Mark also participates in the basketball team of the Special Olympics Unified Sports club on campus, where he practices every Sunday in the Womens Building.

Surrounded by friends, Mark is very proud of his basketball abilities. It's fun to shoot, dribble the ball and then pass it to my teammates, but what I'm really good at is shooting and scoring, Mark says with a smile. But more than his achievements, he enjoys the camaraderie and friendships that form with his peers.

It's the best. We encourage each other, cheer for great players and we all want everyone to play well and have fun, says Mark. I play better when my teammates cheer me on and shout Mark, Mark, Mark! It makes me happy and motivates me.

Brothers Mark (left) and Luke Radel share an unbreakable bond that has only grown stronger during their time at Syracuse University.

An avid fan of the Syracuse University football team, Luke and Mark eagerly await every home game. Mark can often be found shouting and cheering on the team while wearing his No. 6 Syracuse jersey, originally purchased in honor of former starting quarterback Garrett Shrader 23, but this year the jersey is a nod to current starting quarterback Kyle McCord 25.

From his seats in the 300 section in the JMA Wireless Dome, fans flock to Mark's infectious attitude, exchanging fist bumps and high-fives every time Syracuse comes up with a big play.

It's really cool and it gives me a great feeling to know that I'm making new friends while cheering on Syracuse, Mark said.

Mark has such a big smile on his face when he interacts with our fans, and it makes me so happy to see his joy, Luke added.