Development of wheelchair basketball athletes, coaches and referees

The Cause

The mission of the Inferno Wheelchair Basketball Society is to promote and develop the sport of wheelchair basketball while providing competitive opportunities for all athletes regardless of physical ability or gender. Sports provides exercise which benefits both physical and mental health. Team sports aid in the development of physical skills as well as developing self-esteem. Self esteem is nurtured when athletes are given opportunities to develop their competence and confidence. Through connections with other athletes, coaches and referees athletes build character. They learn life skills such as communication, collaboration and leadership. They learn how to win and how to loose. Our fundamental goal is to give anyone and everyone, no matter their disability an opportunity to be part of a team, learn skills, make friends and have FUN.
Wheelchair basketball offers a second chance. " I lost all my independence when I broke my back. I didn't believe I could live an my own or have a quality of life that's worth living. I gained that all back when I started playing wheelchair basketball" says Daniel.
Inferno Wheelchair Basketball promotes equity in access to sports by offering an opportunity for everyone to participate in our program which consists of practices and scrimmages. We host a tournament and try to attend two local tournaments (within driving distance). To culminate the season the team hopes to travel to Montreal for the Canadian National Finals in April 2025. However, we need money for airfare. To grow the sport we also hope to financially support 2 people to attend coaching clinics and 2people to attend referee clinic as coaches and referees are an integral part of the sport.

Who Will it Benefit?

The benefits would empower the current 12 members of the team and then spread and multiply to future team members and the wheelchair basketball world. The grant would allow our athletes to improve their basketball skills as well as expose them to career possibilities in the wheelchair basketball world. Wheelchair basketball players have varying degrees of disabilities such as paralysis, amputation and muscular dystrophy. One objective of Inferno Wheelchair Basketball is to provide equity in access to sport to all. To travel and participate in a national tournament would be tremendous for our athletes and their friends and family. For those athletes with limited skill it would create lifelong memories. For those athletes with unlimited potential the exposure would introduce to opportunities in the basketball world. The Canadian National Finals are a venue for coaches from the USA and Europe to see and meet athletes. States such as Illinois and Alabama offer scholarships to Canadian players. This gives players an opportunity to play basketball, improve their skills and attend college. Countries like France and Germany also scout players at the Canadian Nationals. Playing wheelchair basketball in Europe is a great opportunity to travel and see some of the world. And, of course, Canadian scouts attend the national tournament looking for prospective players for the national team. These opportunities offer athletes like Daniel a second chance. These opportunities offer quality of life, independence and empowerment.