From IM ABLE Foundation
Two inspiring young athletes, 11-year-old Brantlee Phillips and 10-year-old Laykin Ryan, both members of the PA Lions Wheelchair Basketball Team, will be presented with their own custom basketball wheelchairs by the IM ABLE Foundation during team practice on Friday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m., at Spooky Nook Sports, 75 Champ Blvd., Manheim. The presentation event is open to the public.
Phillips and Ryan both use wheelchairs due to injuries sustained in separate car accidents, yet they have embraced life with extraordinary enthusiasm and resilience. They were first introduced to wheelchair basketball at the 2024 Penn State Rec Fest, where they both immediately connected with the sport.
The PA Lions Wheelchair Basketball Team, which practices weekly at Spooky Nook, provides athletic opportunities for youth with disabilities across the region. The team travels to local tournaments with the goal of advancing to regional and national competitions. However, when Phillips and Ryan joined, the team’s wheelchairs weren’t tailored to their unique abilities, which limited how fully they could engage in the sport.
Thanks to Todd and Marie George, who personally funded both custom basketball wheelchairs during IM ABLE Foundation’s annual BASH fundraiser in March, Phillips and Ryan will now each have a chair designed to match their size, ability, and personalities. Phillips chose a red, white, and blue color scheme, while Ryan went with bright pink, reflecting their individuality and excitement for the game. These chairs will allow them to develop skills, compete at a higher level, and enjoy adaptive sports both on and off the court, helping them live life to the fullest.
“This foundation is amazing,” said Todd George. “Seeing the athletes competing and the drive that they have is so inspiring, and our entire family has experienced what sports can mean to a person, and we wanted to help in some small way to bring joy, pride, and that sense of accomplishment through competition.”
“Todd and Marie didn’t just donate equipment,” said Alex A. Pilkington, CEO of the IM ABLE Foundation. “They are changing the trajectory of Brantlee and Laykin’s lives. They are giving them independence, confidence, and the opportunity to chase their dreams, like Brantlee’s goal of one day competing in the Paralympics. We are honored to support Brantlee and Laykin on their journey both on and off the court.”
For more information, email Ashley Tomasko at ashley@imablefoundation.org or visit imablefoundation.org. For more information about IM ABLE Foundation’s services, sponsorship, or to make a gift and fund programs that empower people with disabilities to live life to the fullest, please contact Director of Development Brian Sutherland at brian@imablefoundation.org or visit imablefoundation.org.
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Source: bctv