We are the Banner Junior Wheelchair Suns Basketball Team.  For various reasons, each of us relies on the use of a wheelchair either full time or part-time and qualifies us to be members of this team and this great organization. 

Many of us believed our dream of participating in sports and of being an athlete would never happen, but then we were introduced to the great sport of wheelchair basketball and have now realized our dreams of being competitive athletes.  Last season began with a new head coach and several new team members.  The dream of participating in the National Tournament seemed like an unreachable goal.  However, we listened to our coach, worked hard, learned many new things, developed our playing skills and with the help of sponsors we participated at the National Tournament in Omaha, Nebraska where we placed 11th in the nation.  

Additional accomplishments from last season include a fourth place finish in our first tournament, followed by a third place finish in our second tournament and then at the Denver West Coast Conference Championships we finished in second place.  In addition to placing second in the tournament, one member of our team was selected for the First Team Academic All Star Team and two members were chosen as members of the All Tournament team.   

Being part of this team fills each of us with a great sense of pride and accomplishment.  Being on the court playing basketball helps each of us realize that being in a wheelchair is not an excuse for failing to achieve our goals.  In addition, the team provides each of us with a greater sense of purpose and increases our self esteem every day.  The Banner Junior Wheelchair Suns plan on attending and participating in future tournaments and we need your help.

We are reaching out to our family, friends, and local businesses to help us achieve our dream of participating in the 2009 wheelchair basketball tournaments.  We need to raise the money necessary for the team and staff to attend our upcoming tournaments and our time is limited. Your sponsorship will assist with the cost of airline tickets, hotel accommodations, transportation, wheelchair tires, tubes, and equipment.  

Please make your check payable to MASD and mail your donations to MASD, P.O. Box 4727, Mesa, AZ  85211-4727 and remember all donations are tax deductible.  We greatly appreciate your donation and ask that you notate on your check that your donation is for the Junior Suns. 

To learn more about the Mesa Association of Sports for the Disabled (MASD) dba Arizona Disabled Sports (AzDS), please log on to their website at www.arizonadisabledsports.com. 

Thank you for your consideration and support!