Wheelchair pool tournament planned to benefit paralyzed veterans
The risk of being killed or becoming permanently disabled in the line of duty is a sacrifice those who serve in the military take as they place service above self.
In an effort to help those who now suffer from various forms of paralysis after serving their country, Greenville's VFW Post 4011 plans to host a wheelchair pool tournament to raise money for the Lone Star Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America.
PVA is a nonprofit organization that donates mobility equipment to paralyzed veterans, lobbies with legislators on their behalf and also organizes athletic and recreational activities for disabled veterans.
Scheduled to start at noon on April 12, the entry fee to play in the VFW's wheelchair pool tournament will be $30, with half going to the benefit and half going to the tournament.
While the tournament requires that participants use wheelchairs while playing, it is also open to people who don't actually have to use a wheelchair in their daily lives and wheelchairs will be provided at the event for people who don't have one.
The VFW outlines the following rules:
- Players must sit on the seat or cushion of their wheelchair while playing a shot.
- The shooter's buttocks cannot be higher than 27 inches from the surface the wheelchair rolls on.
- The shooter must have at least one cheek on the seat or seat pad.
- Players must keep their feet off the floor while playing a shot.
- Players cannot use their legs or stumps as leverage against the table or wheelchair.
- Players can use cue extensions, special bridges and other assistive devices.
- Another person can hold the bridge for the player, but cannot help with the stroke of the cue.
- Another person can help the player roll around the table, but cannot touch the wheelchair during the shot.
'This is a tournament for everyone to have a good time while helping raise money for paralyzed Veterans,' Mary Leonard Meador with the Greenville VFW said.
Those who would like to play in the tournament can contact Meador by calling the VFW at (903) 455-9085.
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