ALLENDALE, MI – Kids from all over Michigan, Indiana and Ohio recently attended the Mary Free Bed Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp at Grand Valley State University.
Canceled last year due to COVID-19, the camp drew approximately 40 kids with disabilities. Ranging in age from 7 to 18, the campers participated in numerous sports, including kayaking, dodgeball, basketball, cycling, and football from July 26 through July 30.
“I think that this program is so wonderful because it gives kids empowerment, makes them feel confident they can participate in sports like their friends and family do,” said Maria Besta, camp director and manager of the Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports Program at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital.
“There’s something here just for them and everybody here understands what they are going through, how they feel or how they can use a wheelchair to play sports. The instructors use wheelchairs themselves in everyday life to play these sports, so they are great role models for kids who attend. It is just a great overall quality of life program.”
Kate McCartney, one of more than 40 volunteers, said the camp is a great thing for kids to be able to come to and be themselves because they are just regular kids who deserve to have fun.
“They’re all really inclusive towards each other, probably the most out of all the kids I’ve interacted with,” she said.
“You feel like you fit in, everybody else is in a wheelchair, everybody else has some sort of disability,’’ said Grayden, who has attended the camp for four years.
On Thursday, July 29 campers engaged with the Allendale Fire Department. A highlight of camp every year is the fun water fight with the firefighters, who filled up barrels and set up their fire ladder to rain down water on the kids and volunteers.
This was the 37th year that Mary Free Bed’s Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports program has held the camp, led by instructors who are also competitive wheelchair athletes. Former campers return every year as volunteers to help mentor and encourage the younger kids.
Camp looked different this year because of the pandemic with only a day camp instead of the overnight portion, and participants wore masks when indoors. Organizers say the joy and excitement remained high with everyone just grateful for the camp’s return.
Find out more information about the camp on Mary Free Bed’s website.
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Monica Scott contributed to this article
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