Sure, just about anyone can shoot a basketball through a hoop. They might need quite a few cracks at it, but eventually they’ll get it in.
But it’s not all that easy making a basket sitting in a wheelchair. The combination of trying to stop and go, dribbling and shooting without the use of your legs is a lot to work through, especially if you’ve never been in one before.
And that’s one of the great things about the annual Wheelchair Basketball Benefit at NHTI, now in its 15th year. Watching members of the NHTI staff take on student-filled teams, all of whom are trying to figure it out, is worth the price of admission – which is all by donation, so you can give as little or as much as you’d like. Just remember that this is for a good cause, so feel free to open up that wallet or pocketbook a little bit extra.
The benefit was created way back in 2002 in order to help former NHTI student Zech DeVits. Born with gigantism, a rare genetic condition, and skeletal dysplasia that caused him to reach a towering height of 7 feet, 8 inches, DeVits was a beloved role model on campus. He had used a wheelchair since the age of 6, and the first wheelchair benefit evolved as part of an education course project in which students raised funds to help refurbish his wheelchair-accessible van.
DeVits passed away at age 22 in 2005, just weeks before graduating from NHTI with an associate degree in addiction counseling, but the school continues to hold the event in his memory, raising money to help buy much-needed equipment for current NHTI students with disabilities.
Proceeds from the game and accompanying silent auction and 50/50 raffle will be matched by the NHTI Student Senate to help purchase assistive technology for students with disabilities.
Last year’s event raised nearly $2,000 and allowed for items like noise-canceling headsets, Smart Pens and digital recorders for the equipment loan program, a subscription to Learning Ally audio books, and text-to-voice software to be purchased.
A highlight of this year’s event is a kickoff visit by wheelchair bodybuilder and inspirational speaker Nick Scott, who was involved in a near-fatal traffic accident at the age of 16.
Scott will speak in NHTI’s Wellness Center today (Jan. 31) at noon, and the event is free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted and proceeds will go to support the wheelchair game.
The benefit is Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Goldie Crocker Wellness Center. As always, the competition features a collection of teams composed of NHTI students, coordinated by Athletic Director Paul Hogan, versus a team made up of NHTI faculty, administrators and staff, backed by players from event sponsors Granite State Independent Living and the N.H. Spinal Cord Injury Association.
It’s quite amusing to watch.
For more info, contact Sue Krenzien at skrenzien@ccsnh.edu or 271-6484, ext. 4132.
Insider staff
