First Steps Wellness Centre in Winnipeg hosted a wheelchair curling match on Saturday on the Assiniboine Memorial Curling Membership to lift funds and consciousness for individuals with disabilities.
The centre, which makes a speciality of spinal wire accidents and neurological situations, hosted the occasion to encourage individuals to expertise sport from a chair.
“We discover that there’s not numerous illustration, however there’s additionally not numerous dialog round individuals residing in chairs, or residing with disabilities. So simply exposing the general public to one thing totally different, perhaps one thing they’ve by no means seen earlier than,” mentioned Jonas Mark, supervisor of First Steps Wellness Centre.
Whereas gamers are competing in a pleasant match, many are taking part in the game for the primary time. They will both throw the rock by hand or use the push stick.
“The purpose is totally different – I’m a roller by nature, so the purpose is completely totally different, turning the stick is totally different. It’s positively a unique mindset on the market,” mentioned Janelle Fillion.
As a result of there’s no sweeping concerned, it requires a excessive diploma of accuracy.
“It’s so much more durable than it appears. I believed I used to be gonna be incredible at it, however I used to be very a lot humbled,” mentioned Claire Desjardins.
Together with consciousness, the occasion aimed to lift $10,000 for the centre.
Jeff Richmond mentioned he began as a shopper at First Steps in 2017 and is now a board member. He mentioned the occasion is an opportunity to have a good time the progress they’ve made via train remedy and the group they’ve constructed collectively.
“When individuals are in chairs, typically the success that they’re experiencing – you gained’t have the ability to see together with your eyes, however they’ll really feel it inside and outside.”
He mentioned he hopes to make use of the success to advertise a sporting setting the place everybody will be included.
— with recordsdata from International’s Katherine Dornian
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