Advertisement

Lasalle group that helps those with disabilities hosts basketball tournament

Click to play video: 'Charity wheelchair basketball tournament'
Charity wheelchair basketball tournament
WATCH ABOVE: The seventh annual President's Cup benefiting the Lasalle Action Centre was held at the Lower Canada College Saturday afternoon. Eight teams took part in the wheelchair basketball tournament, raising $50,000 for the centre's activities – May 7, 2016

MONTREAL – Team Global Montreal took to the courts at Lower Canada College on Saturday afternoon for a friendly game of wheelchair basketball, benefiting the Lasalle Action Centre.

For the seventh year, the centre is hosting the President’s Cup Basketball Tournament,  part of Chair Aware month.

Players appear to be disputing a call by the referee during a match at the President’s Cup Basketball Tournament on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Staff/Global News

The event aims to increase recognition of the challenges of being in a wheelchair and to raise awareness about the difficulties encountered on a daily basis by people living with physical or cognitive deficiencies.

Story continues below advertisement

The centre has been offering services to individuals with motor and or cognitive limitations since 1998.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Senior manager, Ilham Bouzouma told Global News that people with physical disabilities are often excluded from the community for many different reasons.

And that’s where the centre comes in.

“We host them with open arms.” Bouzouma said. “They come to the centre to develop their skills and to socialize.”

According to Bouzouma, the most important thing the centre does is foster people’s self-esteem and independence through programs such as workshops on health and wellness, cooking classes and sporting activities.

READ MORE: Lasalle’s Action Centre has become second home to its members

The basketball tournament isn’t just about raising awareness — it’s  also a key fundraiser for the group.

“We are a non-profit organization” Bouzouma said. “It’s really important for us to have funds from donors,” she added, as she took a moment to thank participants and sponsors.

According to Andrew Lindsay, vice chair of the board, the group only receives 25 per cent of it’s funding from the government.

It’s events like this one that allow the centre to keep offering quality services to its members.

At the end of the day, Team Global Montreal brought home the coveted President’s Cup but  no matter the outcome on the courts, the real winner is still the Action Centre.

Story continues below advertisement
The President’s Cup is on display at charity basketball tournament. Saturday, May 7, 2016. Alex Chabot/Global News

Sponsored content

AdChoices