New York Mets And Major League Baseball Reach Out To Wheelchair Athletes
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- With all of the excitement surrounding the upcoming Major League Baseball All Star Game the timing was perfect for athletes from the Wheelchair Sports Federation to put their own skills on display on Sunday.
These stars can hit, field, and round the bases, and having adapted the game to their wheelchairs, nothing can slow them down.
"I've been playing wheelchair sports for 21-years. I lost my leg in the United States Navy," Edy Lopez told CBS 2's Tracee Carrasco.
Players from the federation took the field in specialized sports wheel chairs on Sunday to play an exhibition game as part of the All Star Fan Fest.
"I have spinabifida, so walking, I can still walk around but my mobility isn't that great. Walking gets a little tiring," Bryan Genovese said.
Genovese and other athletes received the chairs as a donation from the New York Mets and Major League Baseball.
"It's definitely a lot quicker, compared to my normal everyday chair," Genovese said, "I don't have to worry about falling over sideways if I have to make a quick turn."
Competing in wheelchair athletics can be very expensive, the donated chairs give the athletes a chance to go out and play ball.
"These athletes, now will have these chairs to train, to compete," Wheelchair Sports Federation President, John Hamre said.
The players hoped that the donation would raise more awareness for their sport, the federation supports athletes around the country.
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