HOW WE FOUND OUT:
Last Wednesday Cian told the class that we were going to the Irish Wheelchair Association and that we would be playing basketball in wheelchairs. The whole class were very excited. Cian told us that we would be going on the 20th of March, four days from then! It was the same day I had chess club, but I was happy to miss it and go on the tour instead.
GETTING THERE ON THE COACH:
On the 20th we had to get the coach at 11.40am. By then we had done Maths, PE and had some food. Then it was time to get on the coach. Everyone had to have a partner and my partner was Ciarán. We got on the coach and went to the Irish Wheelchair Association. It was a 40 minute drive there and back.
WHAT WE DID WHEN WE GOT THERE:
When we got there we went into the big basketball court and everyone got in a wheelchair. The first game we played was “Build Up”. Cian was the fastest out of all of us at this game.
The next game we played was a course around the basketball court and the objective was not to let the ball fall out of your grasp. The next game we played was a real game of basketball. There were four teams at the start and then there was one big match. After that match we got to do what we want for a bit and then that was it.
GOING BACK ON THE COACH:
When we were leaving all of us got some treats. Most of us had them all gone before we got back on the coach! On the way back we talked about the fun we had during the different games. When we got back to school we went straight into class for our bags and then we went home.
REFLECTION:
It was a great day out with my class and it was amazing to see how hard it is to play basketball in a wheelchair. You need a lot of upper body strength to wheel the chair. Going to the Irish Wheelchair Association gave me a better understanding of how hard it is to go around in a wheelchair all day. I now know what Cian must do every day and I’m so proud of him and to be his friend.
Written by Riley Hearns, 5th Class
