Ohio University's School of Physical Therapy is gearing up for a rugby tournament in which the participants will be rolling down a court instead of sprinting down a field.
The school is sponsoring Four-Play, a fundraiser for an Ohio semi-professional quadriplegic rugby team. Quadriplegic rugby ' popularized by the 2005 film Murderball ' features players without use of their legs and limited function of their hands and arms.
Physical Therapy graduate student and one of the event's co-organizer Mike Klonowski said the tournament is about both supporting the team, Buckeye Blitz, and raising awareness about the reality of handicap sports.
Exposing students and the university to this type of population is very important
he said.
OU participants can play Buckeye Blitz in actual quad rugby wheelchairs for 30-minute games. The tournament will give each four to six-member team the choice of having Buckeye Blitz members on their own team and playing against a similarly mixed team or battling entirely against members of the Buckeye Blitz.
All the proceeds generated by the event will benefit Buckeye Blitz. The goal is to raise enough money to help purchase quad rugby equipment such as a custom made wheelchair designed for the sport priced at approximately $4,000. Admission to the event is free.
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Kaitlin Hensel
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