Energy was high at the Stanley Park Community Center on Friday for the third annual scrimmage game between the KW Titans and Adults in Motion, an organization that offers programs, services and supports to people with disabilities and their families.
“Oh, heck yeah, I am ready to go. I am ready to rip and roar,” Bryan, an Adults in Motion client, said with excitement before the match. “We love coming over here and doing this. This is an honour.”
Maggie, another player for Adults in Motion, said she loves coming to the event each year and called the KW Titans players “fun and awesome.”
“We like to support the community as much as we can, and we feel like this is a big part of the community,” said Titans guard Dee Barnes.
The Titans are currently sitting second in the Basketball Super League, but they have never won against Adults in Motion team.
“We took a little beating, but nothing we couldn’t have handled,” Barnes admitted.
This year though, the pros were looking for revenge.
“We’ve been practicing all year for this,” Barnes said.
Despite the tough talk, the event is all about friendly competition.
“It’s amazing to see the relationship that’s grown between the Titans and our program,” said Shelley Murphy, Adults in Motion’s executive director. “We, as an organization, have so many amazing things to say about them.”
Since this year’s event fell on Feb. 14, both teams also exchanged Valentine’s Day cards.
In the end, the Titans lost the match for a third-straight year.
“There’s some sharpshooters here,” said KW Titans CEO David Schooley. “There’s some really good shooters. You know, we’re always looking to add to the team in case we need to build up the roster.”
Petition
Friday’s game was also an opportunity to spread word about an important petition.
Adults in Motion, along with Kitchener Centre MP Mike Morrice, want to see changes to the federal tax code that would make online services for people living with disabilities exempt from taxes.
“They helped me understand better,” said Morrice. “For folks with disabilities, if they have in-person services, those are tax exempt. But if it’s a virtual service online, there’s no tax exemption.”
The petition to the finance minister is available online until Feb. 18.
