A team of wheelchair athletes expressed their gratitude to Oxford AMVETS Post 108 for helping make possible a raffle which raised $5,030 for their group.
‘This post here has been just like a family to us,? said Ray Brown, president and founder of Wheelin? Team 457 based in North Branch through American Legion Post 457. ‘They took our team under their wing and helped us out a lot.?
AMVETS Post 108 obtained the license which allowed the team to conduct the raffle.
‘We wouldn’t have been able to do it without them,? Brown said.
Founded four years ago, Wheelin? Team 457 ‘entices? people confined to wheelchairs to participate in sports and recreational activities like airgun target shooting, archery, swimming, deer hunting, ice fishing, weight-lifting, table tennis, wheelchair racing, bowling and billiards.
‘The main thing is to get the brakes off the wheelchairs and get these guys moving,? said Brown, a paraplegic who was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy in 1996.
Brown said members can participate as a ‘social thing? for recreation or compete in wheelchair athletic competitions around the state and across the country.
‘Whatever their goals are, we will help them accomplish those all the way up to the United States Paralympics,? he said, noting competition is not mandatory.
For the last three years Wheelin? Team 457 has been undefeated in the wheelchair games in both Michigan and Ohio.
‘You have an accumulation of a lot of talents on this team,? Brown said.
Right now, the team has 35 members from as far away Essexville to as close as Metamora.
‘They come from all over,? Brown said. ‘It doesn’t cost anything to join the team.?
He’s grateful for all the help the AMVETS Post 108 have given the team.
Last year, the post gave the team $150 in gas money for their trip to the Ohio Wheelchair Games. This year the post donated $300 to help buy heaters to keep the team members warm while they went deer hunting and ice fishing.
‘We want to thank them for all they’ve done for us,? said Brown, who serves as the post’s secretary and is a Vietnam-era veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps. from 1968-70. ‘The service organizations ? we couldn’t make it without them.?
Brown is also grateful to the other local veterans groups ? American Legion Post 108, Sons of the American Legion Squadron 108 and Ladies Auxiliary Unit 108 ? who bought and sold raffle tickets.
‘Usually, when (the AMVETS) help us, it’s a trickle effect, the rest of the post, they all help us,? he said.