The Michigan Victory games is Michigan’s premiere sporting competition for Individuals with various physical disabilities including muscular dystrophy, multiple schlerosis, spina bifida, and tramatic brain injuries.
Independence Township’s Parks and Recreation are looking for athletes 14 and up with a primary disability to compete in the 2008 Michigan Victory Games on May 15-18 at Michigan State University.
‘It’s slow coming and I think this year may not be exactly how we envisioned it, but it will be fun to go out there and participate, for years to come maybe we can be a little more organized and have a bigger team,? said Kelly Hyer, recreation supervisor for Independence Township Parks and Recreation.
Hyer said they currently have four athletes who have not 100 percent committed because paper work is not complete yet.
It came up in conversation that there wasn’t a team for northern Oakland County or Southern Genesee County, noted Hyer.
‘That’s why the thought since we have a strong therapeutic program in our township that we could maybe find some athletes to form a team,? she said. ‘We were happy to start up a team. Basically it’s a good experience for athletes who go up there and compete. I don’t know of any other experience like it around.?
Hyer is also working with Independence Township residents Ryan Hush, a member of the Michigan Disability Sports Alliance along with his wife Stella, director of the Michigan Victory Games and founder of STRIVE Recreational Therapy Service Inc.
They’ve definitely given us a lot of information to start up a team and having them right in our community is an awesome resource,? said Hyer.
‘They are a big advocate for starting a team because they’re apart of the Clarkston Community and we use Stella quite a bit for our resource when it comes to working with people with disabilities.?
Ryan and Stella are trying to raise more awareness of the games to create more athletes, more teams, and fundraising to offset the cost of the games.
‘Obviously the cost of being in the competition is considerably more for someone with a disability,? said Ryan.
‘Sometimes that turns athletes away.?
Each athlete pays $300 towards the games. It cost’s the Michigan Disability Sports Alliance approximately $40,000 to put the event on.
‘We try to raise $20,000 for the event and we are currently at $13,000 and we’ve got till May,? he said.
‘The big thing this year is to increase athletes, increase teams, increase fundraising, all three of those bring in big revenue to help support the games.
Business ads for the official program booklet start as low as $75 and go as high as $1,000, price varies on ad size.
‘It’s important and I realize the event is not necessarily held in this area, but it’s good for the state and we get a lot of athletes from this area, so the businesses are going to be known,? said Ryan ‘We try to mention them throughout the event as much as we can.?
This year’s corporate sponsor is Rites & Filippis.
Stella said she was happy that Independence Townships Parks and Recreation ‘stepped up? to start a team.
‘Kelly volunteered last year, so she knows what the games about, so I’m glad her and Mike Turk (Parks and Recreations director) kind of stepped up and wanted to start a new team and kind of increase the programs that they’re offering for people with disabilities,? she said.
‘It certainly gives them a lot of credit to step up and want to do something and to even motivate the athletes, because a lot of them are not into routine of sports, so you’ve got to get them motivated to practice and to participate.?
The first Michigan Victory Games were held on August 20-21 at the Lenox Handicapped Center in Detroit and Wayne State University, and the games have been going strong for the past 33 years.
‘These athletes actually come to compete and this is like a starting block, a developmental level for them,? said Ryan. ‘We’ve actually had athletes who have gone on to compete at the world games and the Para-Olympics.?
The events include: Swimming, Slalom, Individual and Team Boccia, Cross Country, Bowling, Cycling/ Handcycling, Powerlifting, Table Tennis, and Track?& Field.
To join or to sponsor a team contact, Call Kelly Hyer at 248-625-5111 or to help volunteer at the event contact Stella Hush at 866-485-6490. For more information about the Michigan Victory Games visit www.michiganvictorygames.com.