Pair fly south to bring back sporting spirit
Two Port Hedland residents living with disabilities have been given the opportunity to take part in a special sporting event.
Anika Coppin Foley, who has spina bifida, and Cory Baumgarten, who has celebral palsy, travelled to Perth on Monday for the 2015 Friendship Games.
The pair joined more than 300 young people from WA, China and Indonesia for five days of friendly competition, and cultural experiences, such as attending a Perth Glory game.
Before jetting off, 15-year-old Cory said he was excited to have the opportunity to be involved for the first time.
He said he was looking forward to playing volleyball, soccer and football.
Meanwhile, Coppin Foley, a keen wheelchair basketballer, will celebrate her 23rd birthday at the games.
Coppin Foley and Cory's trip is the first of its kind for Port Hedland residents and was facilitated by The Outback Academy.
A not-for-profit organisation, The Outback Academy aims to build relationships between indigenous and other Australians at the local level. Outback Academy spokeswoman and paralympian Kathleen O'Kelly-Kennedy said the pair's trip had been made possible by Karijini Civil and Mining managing director Rodney Young, who nominated his company to pay for the pair's return flights to Perth.
"We believe an opportunity like the Friendship Games should be available and accessible to all, and we are so pleased that (Karijini Civil and Mining) share those same values," she said.
"We hope the Friendship Games will inspire Anika and Cory to come back home, continue being active, enjoying life and using that momentum to encourage other young people with disability to get involved in sport, recreation and community."
O'Kelly-Kennedy said she hoped Cory and Coppin Foley's participation in the games, and the academy, had a flow-on effect in the community.
"The Port Hedland YMCA have been very helpful in housing a set of wheelchairs for us, and we look forward to working with them further to introduce a local wheelchair basketball competition, where everyone is welcome - disability or no disability," she said.
