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Wheelchair Basketball Demonstration to take Place during U Penn/ La Salle Basketball Game

On Tuesday, January 15, at 7:00 pm, the La Salle Explorers will take on the University of Pennsylvania Quakers in the storied confines of the Palestra. But fans might find the most fascinating aspect of the night taking place while the two teams are in their locker rooms.

At halftime, members of the Magee Sixers - a wheelchair basketball team sponsored by Magee Rehabilitation Hospital and the Philadelphia 76ers - will demonstrate their sport.

Wheelchair Basketball is played using most of the same, familiar rules as regular basketball, with a few exceptions which have been modified with consideration for the wheelchair. For example, "traveling" in wheelchair basketball occurs when the athlete touches his wheels more than twice after receiving or dribbling the ball. The individual must pass, bounce or shoot the ball before he or she can touch their wheels again.

Although Wheelchair basketball is not a new sport - the sport has been around for decades, and the Dan Sullivan Wheelchair Basketball Tournament here in the Philadelphia area has been in existence for over 6 years - a lot of people are unaware that it, and other sports for people with disabilities, exist.

"We would like two things to come out of Tuesday's demonstration," said Anna Martin, a Certified Therapuetic Recreation Specialist at Magee who oversees the Wheelchair Sports programs. "We want the public at large to see that people with disabilities lead normal lives and opportunities like competitive sports are available to them. And, we want the public to help us spread the word. Perhaps they know someone with a disability who would enjoy participating, and can recommend wheelchair sports to them."

A founding member of the Jefferson Health System, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital is the Philadelphia region's first rehab hospital. Along with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Magee Rehabilitation is one of 14 federally designated model Regional Spinal Cord Injury Centers. Magee Rehabilitation is also home to the nation's first brain injury rehab program to be accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Celebrating its 50th year in operation in 2008, the hospital is authorized to treat wounded military personnel returning from war.

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If you are you a member of the media interested in Magee, please contact:

Kerry R.O'Connor
Director, Public Relations
Magee Rehabilitation Hospital
Six Franklin Plaza
Philadelphia, Pa 19102
(215) 587-3363
KOConnor@MageeRehab.org
MageeRehab.org