For fifteen years, Sportable has been providing a range of athletic opportunities for people with physical disabilities and visual impairments in the Richmond region. While the global coronavirus has affected us all in the past few months, the Sportable family remains resilient.
#WeAreSTILLSportable
Conceived by VCU graduate student Kristen Lessig-Schenerlein and her colleague, Sportable is founded because they saw a need for organized adaptive sports in the RVA community — especially in the veteran population.
Sportable launches it’s first ever program, Power Soccer.
Sportable adds youth Wheelchair Basketball to become the second sports program offered. The youth, in their everyday chairs, would practice with the Richmond Rim Riders at Humphrey Caulder.
Sportable added Wheelchair Tennis, now offering three sports programs. Karin Korb, a Paralympic tennis star, kicked off the program with a tennis clinic.
Sportable began to offer Recreational Cycling at Bryant Park. This was made possible by local wheelchair vendors that loaned Sportable hand cycles.
Sportables first Rock Climbing program takes place at Peak Experiences.
A $100,000 grant from the Veteran’s Administration via the U.S. Paralympic Committee helps to establish a more formalized organization and leads Lessig-Schenerlein to a new full time career as Executive Director.
Sportable brings Wheelchair Lacrosse to their programs. The Crush compete at the national level as part of Wheelchair Lacrosse USA (WLUSA).
Sportable establishes the Changing Perceptions in Schools program for students grades K-12, focusing on disability awareness, etiquette, and the impact of adaptive sports on people with disabilities.
Sportable re-branded as part of a 3 year strategic plan to enhance the PR and Marketing initiative.
First ever Sportable Tailgate
Sportable hosted the 2014 Annual Mid-Atlantic Wheelchair Games on April 4-6. The 42nd annual games were held at various venues throughout the Greater Richmond, Va., area including Sports Backer Stadium, Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership, and Colonial Shooting. This event featured air rifle, archery, track and field, weightlifting, and swimming.
Hunter Leemon is named the organization’s second-ever Executive Director.
Sportables youth wheelchair basketball team, the Spokes become part of the NWBA and attend their first-ever Nationals in Louisville, KY.
Wheelchair racer Alexa Halko is the youngest athlete on the entire U.S. Paralympic team at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio, taking home two silver medals and one bronze medal as a member of the U.S. Track and Field Team.
Sportable merges with 40+ year old storied wheelchair basketball team, the Rim Riders, through the support of the Paralyzed Veterans of America Mid-Atlantic Chapter.
Sportable began serving three year olds in the swimming program. This was an important milestone for the organization to engage youth in adaptive sports from an early age.
Sportable is the recipient of two grants that enable the organization to establish the first Wheelchair Rugby team, the Sportable Possums.
Sportable announces the inception of the Associate Board and the Athlete Advisory Council to support the organization through advocacy, fundraising, and program support.
The first-ever RVA Adaptive Sports Festival attracts over 300 attendees to experience interactive demonstrations and exhibitions of more than a dozen adaptive sports programs.
The 6th Annual Wayne Samford Memorial Golf Tournament will be returning to The Dominion Club on Monday, November 2, 2020.