The seventh annual “Kids Day at the Games” in Milwaukee on Friday, June 22nd introduced local children with disabilities to the world of adaptive sports through the mentoring of athletes attending the 27th National Veterans Wheelchair Games.
Wheelchair athletes from the United States and Great Britain offered first-hand instruction to more than 30 children with disabilities during the event at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Kids played T-ball, participated in relay races and tackled a slalom obstacle course. Kids Day concluded with a special awards ceremony for the participants.
Beyond sports, however, the Games’ athletes discussed with the children such topics as living with a disability, acceptance and inclusion, how to become active in adaptive sports and the importance of service.
Carlos Leon, a first-time Kids Day mentor, described the event as a “life-changing experience.”
“Seeing these kids, with looks of pure joy on their faces, realize they can play sports like able-bodied kids was unexplainable,” he said. “For an afternoon we completely forgot about our wheelchairs. It was certainly an experience I will never forget.”
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