Junior Wheelchair Sport Camps – Meet Shae!

This Holiday Season, you can give the gift of sport and help youth with disabilities across BC get active, have fun, and form powerful friendships.  
 
For over 30 years, the BC Wheelchair Sports’ Junior MultiSport Camp has introduced children and youth with physical disabilities to a range of exciting adaptive sports, opening eyes, hearts and doors to the power of sport, hidden potential and unbelievable opportunities.  
 
Studies show that youth with physical disabilities are significantly less likely to engage in sport than their able-bodied peers. We’re committed to changing this and use our camps as a way to get kids, youth and families involved in a fun, supportive and encouraging way.  
 
Thanks to the support of generous donors like you we were to expand our camps this year and run our first ever Spring Break Camp in Kelowna.  Led by BCWSA staff and athlete mentors, the inaugural Spring Break Camp offered youth the chance to try Wheelchair Athletics, Wheelchair Rugby, Wheelchair Tennis and more.  When combined with our usual Summer Multisport Camp, more than 25 youth from across BC attended our camps this year.  

Youth like Shae, who attended both camps making memories, connecting with peers and having fun.  

“It’s really nice to see him have a chance to meet and play with other peers with disabilities and enjoy  the sports he’s passionate about while getting exposed to new ones”  
-Lisa, Shae’s Mom 
 
Children and youth with disabilities can often be the only one with a physical disability in their school or social environment, our camps help bring these youth together and let me themselves and unleash their potential.  
 
“In the small town we live in there aren’t many opportunities for Shae to play with other people with disabilities in his age group, so having that opportunity to engage with other youth is so important.  
 
These camps are about more than just sport and fun and games, they allow young participants the opportunity to meet other youth who they can relate to and connect with, developing confidence, gaining skills and learning from each other how to navigate living with a disability for both the participants and their families. 
 
“The camp in Kelowna was awesome because it let us reconnect with other families we know as well as meet new ones and realize that we’re all working through similar situations.” 

 
 
Our Junior Wheelchair Sport Camp wouldn’t be possible without the support of people like you whose’s generosity allows us to run programs, purchase equipment and provide support for families to attend from near and far. We have a nurse on-site to support participants’ health, employ former campers as young leaders and role models and bring in athletes and coaches from across the parasport community to enthusiastically share their sports.  

This year, we provided support to several families from outside the Lower Mainland including Shae’s to come to Surrey for the week-long camp and lose himself in sport. He’s now looking forward to 2025 and can’t wait to attend the camps again next year.  

“For Shae, he’s really into sports and this camp allows him to embrace that and feel like the athlete he is. These camps let him push himself and give 100% to the activities over the course of the week.” 

This Holiday Season, we hope you’ll consider donating to BCWSA. You won’t only be giving the gift of sport, you’ll also be giving gifts of community and confidence to youth with disabilities. A gift that impact can’t be measured by any dollar amount.  

To discuss more ways to make an impact and leave a legacy through our Planned Giving program, please contact Matthew McDonell by email at coordinator@bcwheelchairsports.com or by phone at 604.333.3520 ext. 202.