Obstacle course meant to show students how to deal with disabilities

ANGELO ELIA
SENIOR REPORTER

A student held a wheelchair obstacle course at the student centre to raise money for the Canadian Paraplegic Association.

The races, on Monday, Oct. 26, pitted two people going head-to-head for the finish line and was not restricted to just those in wheelchairs. “We have a little obstacle course where you zigzag through a couple of cones and then you’re gonna roll over a rope,” said Zimira Lilji, a second year hospitality and tourism student and organizer of the event.

Leander Casselman of the Canadian Paraplegic Association assisted students participating in the race and said the course gave students the ability to feel how it is to be  paraplegic.

“They put on a pair of oven mitts so they can experience what it’s like to be a paraplegic and not have fully functional hands,” he said.  “Then they put on a shirt and learn what it’s like, how to get dressed without the full function of your fingers.”

Casselman said the event generates interest and money but it is also fun.

“They weave in and out of cones which gives them a bit of experience of what it’s like to maneuver a manual wheelchair,” said Casselman.

Abdi Mohamed, a second year hospitality and tourism student, said it was his first time participating in a wheelchair course.  Although Mohamed is in a wheelchair due to a car accident in 2007, he does not let that stop him from enjoying sports.

“I play for the Ontario wheelchair basketball team,” he said. “I can really run and really have a lot of stamina. I can probably win this whole thing,” Mohammed said before the event.

Lilji said Mohamed won the event and got the best time at 58 seconds but he did not get a prize since he helped run the event.

Casselman said he didn’t perform in the obstacle course because it was too easy for him.

The wheelchairs were provided by the CPA.

Lilji said she was not sure how much money was raised since students donated up to two dollars each, but the event was not really about the money. “The main point is basically that we wanted people to see how it is to live in wheelchairs.”

Casselman said only about 20 students showed up and other events at Humber prevented more from participating. “Many fundraising events were taking place at the time and one of the obstacles were the other fundraising activities.”

He said the money raised was used for another charity event that was held on Nov. 20 at 6 p.m.

“We’re trying to hold a different event every week. This week we had a bake sale and next week we’ll have another bake sale,” said Lilji.

She said the event lasted two and a half hours and the winner received a $10 Tim Hortons gift card.