“Mom, I’m finally on a team!”
Those words were actually spoken by a ten year old boy on the night of his first sled hockey practice. He had heard about being on a team. He had seen his brother be part of a team. Now it was, finally, his turn.
The Wheelchair Sports Federation is planning its second bi-annual charity event — Breakaway 2016 — at the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park on February 9th 2016 in order to raise money and awareness to support its sled hockey program for physically disabled youth in New York City, and we would be very pleased if you could join us. At our first Breakaway event, we had over 300 guests come out on a very wintery day. Breakaway 2016 promises to be even bigger and better.
Indeed, we are pleased to share with you that hockey great Mark Messier will be in attendance and supporting the WSF Sled Rangers as our Special Guest.
When we held our last Breakaway event in 2014, we had 23 physically disabled athletes in the program. In the intervening 18 months, we have grown so that now we will have over 40 disabled kids taking part. We have divided our program into 3 teams and created NYC¹s very first sled hockey league.
As you know, my own 12-year son Sam was born with a birth defect of his spinal cord, making him paralyzed below his waist. When Sam, or any of our disabled athletes, walks or wheels into his classroom, and says he is a hockey players, it makes his able-bodied friends look at him differently, it makes his parents look at him differently, and it makes him think about himself differently. We are increasing independence, developing self-esteem, and growing self-confidence through something as simple as playing sports. In addition, we are exposing them to the teamwork, friendship, and competition that comes from playing sport; this is common for most able-bodied kids but very rare for the physically disabled.
Our athletes are aged between 5 and 21, and reside in all five boroughs of New York City, as well as Long Island, Westchester and Rockland Counties, and southern Connecticut. The kids and families are from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
The Wheelchair Sports Federation is committed to covering the costs for any athlete who wants to play, regardless of their ability to pay. We are looking to raise money to pay for sleds and equipment, ice time, transportation, development, and outreach. Your support will help even more physically disabled kids achieve the dream of being on a team.
This event will showcase the team skating on the ice as well as provide an opportunity for guests to try skating in a sled. There will be, of course, buffet dinner and drinks, a live auction, and music.
The Wheelchair Sports Federation is organized as a Public Charity and is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)3, so most of your donation amounts will be tax deductible. The 501(c)3 determination letter can be found here.
Because of good friends like you we have the ability to offer the opportunity for kids with disabilities to play Sled Hockey in the New York area.
Please go to http://www.wsfsledrangers.org/register in order to purchase your admission and to donate. Space is limited so please register early if you plan on coming.
I really hope you can be with us on February 9th, and see what I’m so excited about.
Please also see http://www.wsfsledrangers.org for more information about the program.
Best Regards,
Bill
