Wheel Chair Basketball Game brings National Disability Awareness Month to a close at Wright-Patt

  • Published
  • By Wesley Farnsworth
  • 88 Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Service Members, government civilians and members of the local community gathered for the annual wheelchair basketball game held inside the Wright Field Fitness Center, Oct. 26.

This 2nd annual game marks the end of various activities held around Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for National Disability Awareness Month and the goal was to give those without the disability a chance to see what it is like to play a popular sport with a disability.

“There are so many people that have disabilities and not just the mobility type but also mental,” said Master Sgt. Brandon M. Arenibar, event coordinator. “We do wheelchair basketball because we wanted to bring light to members that have mobility disabilities and give the public a chance to be in their shoes and to feel what it’s like to be bound to a wheelchair.”

In two fifteen-minute games, twelve Airmen and Civilians took on four players from the Miami Valley Raptors, three of which work here on base.

“This is my 2nd year participating in this game and it’s great because of the awareness it brings and demonstrates we can adapt any able bodied sport to be played in a wheelchair,” said Greg Johnson, a member of the Raptors from Xenia, Ohio. “I’ve been in this wheelchair for close to 30 years and it’s always fun to see the publics face when they try to play a sport for the first time while being in a wheelchair.”

While fans cheered on both teams, the Raptors beat out the volunteer players with a combined score of 32 to 20 between the two games plays.

“I’m extremely pleased with the turnout not only here today but over the last month at our various events,” said Arenibar. “We have really been able to highlight and promote awareness of various disabilities through the events held across the base.”