Let me just start by saying - you can give as little or as much of your time and/or money as you can spare. We are a small but devoted group of people who are dedicated to bringing wheelchair basketball to as many people as possible - please help us if you can.
Our Sport
Our Sport
Cardiff CELTS Wheelchair Basketball Club was the first wheelchair basketball club in
Wheelchair Basketball is one of the most popular disability sports and it consistently attracts more attention and spectators than other disability sports. It is a dynamic exhilarating sport which promotes a healthy confident capable image of "dis"ability - the players are great role models.
Our Costs
The club began life in 2002 and it was not until the 2006/07 season that the Club was ready to enter a team in the Great Britain National League. It took that long to build up a core base of players and raise the funds necessary to buy the basketball wheelchairs that are needed for people to participate. But the Club has been highly successful to date and more can be read in the "About Us" section.
It is the cost of buying and maintaining the basketball wheelchairs that is the primary expense of any wheelchair basketball club and, as obvious as it sounds, is the main difference (in terms of cost) between a wheelchair basketball team and an able bodied basketball team.
Each of these basketball wheelchairs is a high tech, hand made piece of engineering which is built to each players unique measurements and, consequently, they are extremely expensive. Most of the basketball wheelchairs in use in this country are made by RGK wheelchairs - and their standard basketball wheelchair (The Interceptor) costs at least £2,500. On top of this initial outlay each chair needs maintenance, with a set of tyres costing approximately £40 and a castor wheel costing in the region of £35. Bearings and tyres need to be regularly replaced (every 4 or 5 months) and the ongoing maintenance costs in relation to each chair can become quite extensive as a result.
In addition to the exceptional costs involved in acquiring and maintaining the Club's wheelchairs, the Club also has to bear the cost of entering two teams into the Great Britain National League. In relation to home games, the clubs costs include referees and other match officials' costs and in relation to away games, travel costs are the main expenses. The projected costs of the 3rd division team competing in the National League for the 2006/2007 season was in the region of £1,700. The 4th division team's costs are projected to be very similar because although there may be fewer matches, the overall distance travelled will be greater. These costs are likely to increase every year with the climbing costs of fuel etc.
These estimates do not include the cost of team kit/strip etc.
Fundraising Ideas
There are two main methods for people who would like to get involved with our club to help us. Either a straight forward donation (any and all sums will be very gratefully received) or an ongoing sponsorship relationship. If you would like to help us with costs and have other ideas as to how that help could be structured please contact us to discuss the options.
Alternatively, if you have some spare time and would like to volunteer with the club, we would be extremely pleased to hear from you.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Given the potential for wheelchair basketball in
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Our players would also be available for demonstrations and other publicity events that your company would like to stage.
The benefits for your company would include :
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Your company would be demonstrating community awareness.
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If you have any other ideas we are more than willing to listen to your proposals....and we would love to hear from you.
