A Galway-based wheelchair basketball team has been shortlisted for a share of the €125,000 Coca-Cola 125 Years Thank You Fund.
The Titan Wheelers, part of Titan’s Basketball Club, have been selected from an initial entry of 600 applications to a shortlist of 45 groups and organisations that will eventually be reduced to 15 to benefit from the fund. Ten organisations will receive €10,000 with the remaining five receiving €5,000.
There is a public vote which accounts for 50 per cent with the remainder awarded by a judging panel. The closing date for voting is September 30 and the club is encouraging everyone to vote for The Galway Titans Basketball on the Coca-Cola 125 Year Thank You Fund website.
The Titan Wheelers train in Westside Community Centre using wheelchairs that were purchased several years ago through a partnership with Titans Basketball Club, local businesses, and medical device companies. These wheelchairs are ideal for training children and young adults but having progressed over the years, the team are now looking to compete nationally and will require new competition specification wheelchairs.
“Basketball wheelchairs are expensive items with entry level models starting at around €1,000,” said David Kennedy who captains the team. “We have progressed significantly over the years with adults and children benefiting from the wheelchairs funded by Titans and local business, but now that we are looking to compete nationally, we need to upgrade to competition standard chairs. We would encourage everyone to support us by voting on the Coca Cola website.”
Wheelchair-bound and able-bodied players are welcome to participate in wheelchair basketball with adult training taking place every Wednesday at 8.30pm in Westside Community Centre.
