WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2018 – Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans), announced its groundbreaking Quad Rugby Invitational, a free event for individuals living with disabilities. On February 24, wheelchair athletes will meet at the Shooter Indoor Sportsplex in Midlothian, VA to match their skills in a heated competition.
The event will include a free clinic on February 23 at 5:00 p.m. led by Paralyzed Veterans’ partner, Oscar Mike, and will be catered towards novice wheelchair athletes interested in learning advanced rugby skills and techniques.
As co-host of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG), Paralyzed Veterans has been offering adaptive rugby competitions annually as an integral part of its mission to improve the quality of life for individuals living with disabilities. The Quad Rugby Invitational will serve to broaden the scope and reach that the NVWG achieves.
“Our mission for sports and recreation at Paralyzed Veterans of America is to improve the quality of life of paralyzed veterans and other persons with disabilities by assisting the expansion of both the quality and quantity of opportunities in sports and recreation, especially those activities which enhance lifetime health and fitness,” said Fabio Villarroel, Paralyzed Veterans’ acting director of sports and recreation. “The Code of Honor Invitational provides an opportunity for our Veterans to showcase their abilities in a competitive environment while engaging with the local community. The impact for our disabled Veterans goes beyond the playing field, as often, these opportunities create the self-awareness and confidence that carry over into other areas of their lives that can impact employment, education, and family planning.”
The announcement follows the appointment of Paralyzed Veterans’ Deputy Executive Director, Shaun Castle. Castle, a former collegiate and professional wheelchair basketball player, is a relentless advocate for the disabled community and is transforming Paralyzed Veterans’ adaptive sports program.
“I’m honored to have this opportunity to take my experience as a Paralyzed Veterans’ member and a professional athlete and give back to the greater disabled community,” said Castle. “By offering a myriad of new sporting events, like the Quad Rugby Invitational, we can expand public awareness about the positive impact of adaptive sports. Most importantly, we can offer new meaning and a greater sense of purpose to the lives of those living with life-altering disabilities.”