MONROE - Monroe eighth-grader Ben Becker hasn't had a chance to play football or many other sports some children may take for granted.

Becker was born with Shone's Complex, a rare form of a congenital heart disease. Although he can't play football, he's doing what he can to help the Green County Family YMCA's Blaze football program.

It hasn't always been an easy road for Ben. Shone's Complex is characterized by multiple problems with the left side of the heart, which receives blood from the lungs and pumps it to the body. The valves and passageways are often too small or blocked.

Shortly after birth, doctors discovered Ben had several heart problems, including an underdeveloped left ventricle and a major hole in his heart.

"We were scared," said Thomas Becker, Ben's father. "It was a 'what do we do next' type of reaction."

Ben underwent two open heart surgeries in his first seven months and had an angioplasty nine years ago.

He's been able to enjoy some sports: He has played soccer and enjoyed bicycle riding, and has no restrictions in physical education class at Monroe Middle School.

"I don't let my heart condition effect my participation in gym," Ben said. "I just do what everyone else does."

Last year when he served as the manager for the Green County YMCA's eighth-grade Blaze football team, some of his friends wanted him to be a part of the team. But he wanted to make a lasting impression on the program and give something back.

That's why Ben, a Troop 101 Life Scout, chose to raise money to build a press box for the Blaze football program as his Eagle Scout project. Eagle Scout is the highest rank a Scout can achieve.

Ben's timeline for the press box includes construction starting in June and having the press box built before the Blaze football season starts in August. He has already raised about $1,000 and is searching for more community donations to build the press box.

"My goal is to have it in place before the season starts," he said.

Robert Wheat of Monroe has volunteered his services as an architect. Wheat is working on drawing up plans for a final rendition of the 16-by-20, two-story wooden press box to submit for state approval. The bottom level of the press box will be for storage and the top will provide an area for coaches and others to videotape games.

Ben said games in the past have been taped by standing on scaffolding and walking the sidelines.

"It's kind of in the way of spectators," Ben said of the current videotaping system. "It (the press box) will be safer. It's better for spectators."

Aaron Phillips, Green County YMCA executive director, said it's an ambitious timeline for building the press box, but it's realistic.

"I think with this project, with the community support we have and the collaboration of it being a Scout project that will benefit the YMCA - I think the community will support it and it could get done this year," Phillips said.

Chad Shelton, the sports program director at the Green County YMCA, said the press box will not just benefit the Blaze program - it will also be used for soccer and Tee Ball programs that also use the field. The press box also is expected to be used during the Monroe Park and Recreation department's Fourth of July soccer tournament.

"It will be a nice safe place to keep score and for videotaping," Phillips said.