Wheelchair rugby looking to expand across southern Interior

Image Credit: Contributed

November 09, 2015 - 2:30 PM

KELOWNA – With a grant from RBC Canada a wheelchair rugby team in Kelowna is holding a Try Our Sport Day in hopes of raising disability awareness and challenging the community to expand their boundaries.

Colleen Bryant of the Kelowna KO’s says Kelowna still has the Okanagan’s only wheelchair rugby team, but that will soon change.

“We currently have athletes travelling from all over the Okanagan to practice in Kelowna,” she says. “This foundation is now providing us with the growth and progress to begin practices in Kamloops in addition to our hand cycle and workout cross training programs. In November, one of our founding athletes, Stu Wymer, will begin coaching and training new members in Kamloops at a local practice facility there.”

Try Our Sport Day takes place this weekend on Nov. 15 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Joseph Elementary School. They provide the specially designed chairs, safety equipment and instructions. They plan to launch similar programs in Penticton and Vernon in the future as well.

“The value that programs such as the KOs contribute to the community really does become immeasurable when you consider all the opportunities it presents in a niche market,” she says. “From making personal and team connections and positive growth, to challenging us to expand boundaries and remove barriers from our physical, mental and social ideals.”

For more information or to become a volunteer, visit the Kelowna KO’s website.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.