Wheelchair Basketball Bash coming

Friday, April 3, 2009

(Stillwater, OK  April 3, 2009) -- The 7th Annual OSU Wheelchair Basketball Bash will pit an all-star team of OSU varsity Cowboys and Cowgirls against the OSU Spokes, the university’s official wheelchair basketball team, on Tuesday, April 14, at 7 p.m. in Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater.
 
The bash is to help raise funds to benefit the team and pay travel expenses to games. Tickets are just $5.
 
“While the highlight of the evening is the game and a demonstration of competitive wheelchair basketball, exhibitors with products and services related to issues of disability will also help raise awareness at the event,” said Stacy Pinney, adaptive sports coordinator and wheelchair basketball coach.
 
The Cowboy Wheelchair Basketball Team is one of 10 teams in the nation recognized by the National Wheelchair Basketball Association as a collegiate team, according to Pinney. As part of the collegiate division, the team is invited to travel to places such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arizona, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Texas and Missouri. Depending on the mode of travel, each trip can cost as much as $5,000.
 
The wheelchair team raises money for these trips by working concessions for various athletic events, selling team apparel, grant writing, seeking sponsorships, holding exhibition games and hosting a wheelchair basketball summer camp for disabled athletes. The annual Bash is its major fundraising event.
 
For more information, contact Stacy Pinney at (405) 744-8538 or e-mail stacy.pinney@okstate.edu. Find out more about the team by going to http://campusrec.okstate.edu/adaptivesport/.