25th National Veterans’ Wheelchair Games Kid’s
Day by Lance H. Hegland
Kid’s Day offers local children
of all abilities the opportunity to interact and participate in various
events with the guidance of national veteran wheelchair athletes.
The event was originally
organized to provide an opportunity for local children to learn
life lessons from our nation’s veterans.
Over the years, it has grown into a wonderful opportunity for competing
athletes to mentor children by:
• introducing adaptive
sports and recreational activities;
• discussing experiences
living with a disability;
• teaching the
meaning of service;
• explaining the sacrifices America’s
veterans have given for their country;
• presenting demonstrations
of wheelchair sports competition.
Since the first Kid’s Day was held in New York City during
July 2001, more and more children have participated each year. The
cities of Cleveland, Ohio (2002), Long Beach, California, (2003),
and St. Louis, Missouri, (2004) have hosted the National Veterans
Wheelchair Games and Kid’s Day events since its inception.
Kid’s Day will be held on Thursday, June 30, inside the Minneapolis
Convention Center. The day event will take place from 10:00 a.m.
to 2:00 p.m. Athletes will share stories about their military service,
lead participants in the Pledge of Allegiance, direct a rousing cadence
session, and demonstrate various stretching exercises. Instructions
in such activities as flag folding, table tennis and a modified slalom
course will also be given, followed by a lunch with the mentoring
athletes. The day’s event will conclude with a closing ceremony
where the athletes will present each child with a “Kids Day” medal,
presentation photo, and a souvenir bag.
The Kid’s Day evening event will take place from 7:00 p.m.
to 8:30 p.m. at the Basketball and Quad Rugby areas where the children
will again have the opportunity to meet the wheelchair athletes,
watch the athletic competition, ask questions, and receive a Kid’s
Day souvenir.
To register for Kid’s
Day, please contact Sheila Skipper at sheilas@pva.org or (800)
424-8200 ext. 654. For more information regarding the Games, visit
the website at www.wheelchairgames.org.
