Wheelchair Basketball
CHALLENGE IS A SLAM-DUNK

The All-Stars face tough defense by the Flying Eagles.
People attending the Oakwood Wheelchair Basketball Challenge in April, saw much more than a contest between the Oakwood Healthcare System All-Stars and Flint Flying Eagles. They also witnessed the amazing athletic skills of people with disabilities, experienced the fun of a family-oriented evening, and contributed to the success of a meaningful program right here in our community.

Sponsored by Wright & Filippis and Oakwood Home Medical, the Oakwood Wheelchair Basketball Challenge was played at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn. Proceeds from the event benefited the Program for Exceptional Families.

In addition to the basketball game, fans were able to participate in a halftime shoot-out contest and a free raffle, featuring a variety of prizes.

The Oakwood All-Star Cheerleaders.
The Oakwood All-Stars, a team consisting of staff and administrators from Oakwood Healthcare System, faced the Flint Flying Eagles, an active wheelchair basketball team led by two members of the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame – Ray Brown and Kevin McCrory.

"We met with Mayor Michael Guido earlier this year and we were excited to see that he felt as strongly as we did about this event," said Mike Murray, Wright & Filippis' Director of Marketing and Communications. "We were all in agreement that this game would help encourage people with disabilities to get active and to get involved. Without the Mayor's assistance, as well as the tremendous cooperation of the Ford Center's staff, this event wouldn't have happened."

The Program for Exceptional Families, based in Dearborn, is an innovative program that provides comprehensive, coordinated, family-centered care for children with a wide range of disorders and disabilities. The program receives its chief funding through the generous support of the Oakwood Healthcare System Foundation.

"I think it's important for people to understand that this facility is ideal for an event such as this," Murray added. "In addition to being state-of-the-art, it's barrier-free throughout. Once people see what great opportunities there are for people with disabilities, we're hoping it will inspire them to get active."