SP Girls Raise Over $1,500 For Children's Hospitals With Wheelchair Basketball Event

The Severna Park girls basketball team’s charity wheelchair basketball fundraiser for Shriner’s Children’s Hospital and the Kennedy Krieger Institute on January 27 was a big success.

The team welcomed the Bennett Blazers wheelchair basketball team to campus for an afternoon of hoops and raised over $1,500 to donate to Shriner’s and Kennedy Krieger.

The event was of great importance to Falcons head coach Kristofer Dean. Dean was born missing a bone in his leg, and went to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital as a patient when he was just 10 months old. He underwent an extensive surgery that was successful, allowing him to be fitted with a prosthetic.

“It is because of this organization that I am able to do what I do every day,” said Dean. “They gave me the opportunity to letter in three sports in high school, play collegiate baseball, and now coach this basketball team. Shriners Hospitals do amazing things, and I am very proud of my girls for putting this event on so another kid just like myself can be given the same opportunities.”

Dean said everyone came together to make the event a success, and the team plans to grow the event for next year and beyond.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my girls for leading this event along with the help our many wonderful parents. The Bennett Blazers did a great job demonstrating the game and allowing spectators to try out the chairs, and I want to thank Gerry Herman for allowing us to use their chairs and for being a part of this event. They did a great job. This is definitely an event that we would like to try and continue for years to come.”