Club backs player’s journey

A SURPRISE donation was made by members of a local basketball club to aid one of their players in their upcoming trip to the Special Olympics.

Tameka Strickland has been raising money throughout the year for a trip to Launceston to represent Victoria as part of a team of 36 basketballers.

Members the Sovereign Knights Basketball Club presented Strickland with $1000 on Thursday night last week to help with her efforts.

She said she was “shocked” when she saw the giant cheque.

“I thought I was going to cry, honestly. A lot of people have supported me including the new mates I’ve made through this club,” she said.

“The social side of playing is really partly what drives me and I reckon that’s been achieved with the Sovereign Knights. They’re all really nice girls.”

Diagnosed with an intellectual disability, Strickland has been playing basketball since she was 12 and joined the Sovereign Knights’ under 19s girls’ team this season.

The club’s contribution was raised during a three-month period through various drives, trivia nights, club dinners and a prize draw.

Club secretary and coach Rebecca Ware helped present the funds and said she hopes the initiative is a step forward for women in sport.

“Being marginalised for being female, it’s not very often these opportunities are supported by a club so we’re really keen to motivate and empower as many women in sport as we can,” she said.

“Tameka has been such an asset to us and we just wanted to give back. It’s a thank you to her for being part of our club and a gesture of goodwill for women in sport.

“We’re only a small club of 200 members so it does take a bit of work to raise this money but it’s worth it to keep young people engaged.”

The tournament in Launceston set to take place from Friday, 17 October until Friday, 21 October and the donation will be added to Strickland’s completed $3200 goal to cover flights and accommodation.