Katie and International Quad Rugby
Donation protected
Hello!
I am a passionate speaker, teacher, advocate, and athlete. In 2007, I was in car accident and had a spinal cord injury, left paralyzed from the chest down. In an instant my life was changed in every possible way and I felt lost. With the support of friends, family, and community I was able to view that challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow as an individual. In the process I found quad rugby.
Quad rugby is an adaptive sport played on a basketball court with four players on the court at a time for each team. The ball is inbounded (like in basketball) and the objective is to cross the endline of the other side. Here's the catch and best part, opponents are able to crash into eachother with great force as an offensive and defense tactic. Game play is nothing like actual rugby, it is just a title indicating the roughness of the sport. It was originally termed Murderball, but that was not exactly marketable. Game play and rules are more a combination of soccer, basketball, and ice hockey.
Through the sport and teammates, I learned how to now live life from a wheelchair and develop confidence and a drive for independence. I have shared my experience in adaptive sports to educate and advocate for others, through presentations and demonstrations from elementary schools to colleges. I went on in advocacy to become Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania 2013, advocating for individuals with disability throughout the state, with a message that everyone has a voice and a unique experience worth sharing to create understanding.
After 8 years being one of a handful of women in a male-dominated sport, I have emerged as a talented and passionate participant. On the weekend of December 11, 2015 is the International Women's Quad Rugby Tournament in Paris, France. It is an amazing opportunity for women in the sport to come together to share and compete in a sport they love, while building connections as women and leaders. It is an opportunity that I cannot pass up.
The Pittsburgh SteelWheelers, my quad rugby team organization, has offered to partially sponsor me, but I have decided to seek outside funding in an effort to allow the organization to use those funds for other athletes and opportunities.
The cost of attending the tournament is largely the plane ticket. For the days of the tournament, hotel and 2 meals a day are covered by the host, CAPS AAA Paris. Being a quadriplegic, the effort and time of travel takes a lot of energy (as does playing rugby) and can be difficult, so I will stay an extra night to recoup before return to the United States. This will incur hotel and food costs. Other costs may include ground transportation and any travel fees.
Unfortunately, time is very limited. I found out about this opportunity and again could not pass it up. I leave for Paris on Monday, December 7th, only 2 weeks from today.
I have learned so much from having the experience of quad rugby and my peer athletes. The opportunity to learn from other women is priceless and so rarely come across. To connect with an international group of women and learn what they are doing in their communities and how is also priceless to me. I want to bring that back to this community and contiune advocating for a climate of understanding with all levels of ability and experience.
I already feel tremendous gratitude to my community for its role in helping me to take on my challenge as an opportunity to grow. I would dually appreciate any help for this opportunity that I feel would allow me to ultimately give back and help develop my community to better advocate for the lives of men, women, and children with disabilities.
Thank you so much for your consideration!
I am a passionate speaker, teacher, advocate, and athlete. In 2007, I was in car accident and had a spinal cord injury, left paralyzed from the chest down. In an instant my life was changed in every possible way and I felt lost. With the support of friends, family, and community I was able to view that challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow as an individual. In the process I found quad rugby.
Quad rugby is an adaptive sport played on a basketball court with four players on the court at a time for each team. The ball is inbounded (like in basketball) and the objective is to cross the endline of the other side. Here's the catch and best part, opponents are able to crash into eachother with great force as an offensive and defense tactic. Game play is nothing like actual rugby, it is just a title indicating the roughness of the sport. It was originally termed Murderball, but that was not exactly marketable. Game play and rules are more a combination of soccer, basketball, and ice hockey.
Through the sport and teammates, I learned how to now live life from a wheelchair and develop confidence and a drive for independence. I have shared my experience in adaptive sports to educate and advocate for others, through presentations and demonstrations from elementary schools to colleges. I went on in advocacy to become Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania 2013, advocating for individuals with disability throughout the state, with a message that everyone has a voice and a unique experience worth sharing to create understanding.
After 8 years being one of a handful of women in a male-dominated sport, I have emerged as a talented and passionate participant. On the weekend of December 11, 2015 is the International Women's Quad Rugby Tournament in Paris, France. It is an amazing opportunity for women in the sport to come together to share and compete in a sport they love, while building connections as women and leaders. It is an opportunity that I cannot pass up.
The Pittsburgh SteelWheelers, my quad rugby team organization, has offered to partially sponsor me, but I have decided to seek outside funding in an effort to allow the organization to use those funds for other athletes and opportunities.
The cost of attending the tournament is largely the plane ticket. For the days of the tournament, hotel and 2 meals a day are covered by the host, CAPS AAA Paris. Being a quadriplegic, the effort and time of travel takes a lot of energy (as does playing rugby) and can be difficult, so I will stay an extra night to recoup before return to the United States. This will incur hotel and food costs. Other costs may include ground transportation and any travel fees.
Unfortunately, time is very limited. I found out about this opportunity and again could not pass it up. I leave for Paris on Monday, December 7th, only 2 weeks from today.
I have learned so much from having the experience of quad rugby and my peer athletes. The opportunity to learn from other women is priceless and so rarely come across. To connect with an international group of women and learn what they are doing in their communities and how is also priceless to me. I want to bring that back to this community and contiune advocating for a climate of understanding with all levels of ability and experience.
I already feel tremendous gratitude to my community for its role in helping me to take on my challenge as an opportunity to grow. I would dually appreciate any help for this opportunity that I feel would allow me to ultimately give back and help develop my community to better advocate for the lives of men, women, and children with disabilities.
Thank you so much for your consideration!
Organizer
Katie Smith
Organizer
Donegal Township, PA