Path to Success, a London-based charity founded in 2005 by philanthropist Mrs Anita Choudhrie, has supported the Wheelchair Basketball tournament organised at Olympic Park Copper Box Arena. The event was designed to expose more people to the game of wheelchair basketball and to raise money for the London Titans wheelchair basketball team – with over £17,000 raised on the day. Corporate companies enjoyed a visit from Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson at the event.
The day began with current Titans players, including ex-Team GB Paralympian Tyler Saunders and Junior Team GB European champion Christy Gregan running a training session for the five participating teams.
The day then moved into a tournament phase with PHA Media, Deloitte, C&C Alpha Group, Shanti Hospitality and University of East London (sponsored by The May Fair Hotel) competing against each other in a knockout format, with Deloitte winning as eventual corporate champions.
Baroness Thompson arrived in the afternoon to speak with the participants and to present an achievement award to Titans head coach, Ian Laker, for his contributions to wheelchair basketball in the UK.
Baroness Thompson said: “Today has been brilliant because it’s so important to get people playing wheelchair sport whether disabled or able-bodied. When I was growing up it was so hard to find a team and to play but now you can see the strength of wheelchair basketball and that is a testament to the legacy of 2012 and to people like Ian Laker.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are, how good you are or what your impairment is, you can play at some level and we want disabled children to be fit and healthy and playing sport.” The London Titans have 66 members aged 10 to 50 and have produced more than 50 team GB players, but they receive no central sports funding. The money raised by the event will go towards buying sports wheelchairs, court hire, match fees, transport and coaching for the team.
Current Titans player Christy Gregan said: “Wheelchair basketball has enabled me to travel the world, meet some of my best friends and do things I never thought I could do. Getting your first chair makes you feel like have a new set of legs, as a youngster you feel like you can do things you’ve never done before. Days like these that fund those feelings are vital.”
Path to Success founder Anita Choudhrie said: “Today has gone off really well and we are so happy and proud to see the culmination of 6-8 months of very hard work. We have had really good fundraising support from companies and I hope they will respond to us again in the future.”
