By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Friday is the last day to sign up to play wheelchair basketball on Saturday night at FHSU’s Gross Memorial Coliseum.

The event, which will be 1 to 4 p.m., is a fundraiser organized by FHSU Leadership 310 students for the Hays Accessible Recreation Complex.

“It seemed pretty fitting since this supports people with disabilities,” student Kelsey Todd-Anton said. “The word we want to focus on is inclusion, so we want that to align in the fundraiser as well.”

Student Tyler Renninson said, “Every kid deserves a good park. I grew up going to a park a couple of houses down from my house, and I think a park helps develop a child.”

There are three to five members per team for the 3-on-3 tournament. Both able-bodied and disabled players are welcome. Wheelchairs will be provided.

Wheelchair basketball follows most of the same rules as standard basketball, except you don’t have to dribble the ball. The games are limited by either points or time.

Cost is $5 per person for team members. Anyone is welcome to watch the tournament. Tickets are $2 at the door.

To register a team, click here.

There will be prizes for the winning team members and door prizes for people who come to watch the games.

The students have a fundraising goal of $1,000.

Todd-Anton said she thought the park would help grow the sense community in Hays. The students noted the park will be for use by everyone in the community.

“We want to create an equal platform for kids to learn things, such as acceptance and tolerance,”  Todd-Anton said.

See related story: ARC rolls out plans for new accessible recreation complex