LOCAL basketball player Tameka Strickland is preparing to take part in the Special Olympics Australian National Games after bringing home gold in the Victorian event last month.<\/p>\n
The national games are set to take place in Launceston from Friday, 7 October until Friday, 21 October, and Tameka will represent Ballarat out of list of 36 Victorian players.<\/p>\n
Strickland is hoping to raise $3200 to get to Apple Isle, and her mother, Nicole Strickland, said they are asking for the funds however they can.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat money will be absolutely everything from the flights over there to accommodation. We\u2019re going to get there for her one way or another but every little bit helps,\u201d Nicole said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very proud of her and it\u2019s great to see how much she gets out of it. She obviously enjoys it a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Strickland has been playing basketball since she was 12 and has been a part of the Special Olympics since she was 16, having previously played with the Ballarat Celtic Tigers.<\/p>\n
Alongside receiving her first gold medal at the Victorian State Games, Strickland also lit the cauldron for the Law Enforcement Torch Run\u2019s opening ceremony for the event.<\/p>\n
Listed as a grade C player in the Special Olympics, Strickland was diagnosed with an intellectual disability and said playing basketball has provided a way for her to come out of her shell.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy main goal with basketball isn\u2019t to win medals, it\u2019s to make friends. I get very anxious with new faces so it\u2019s a good social outlet to meet people,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just fun. I get to make new basketball mates, and I\u2019ve always gravitated more towards it than any other sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to going to Tassie because I\u2019ve never been there before let alone on a plane. It\u2019s all so exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n
To donate visit bit.ly\/3ld7DDm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LOCAL basketball player Tameka Strickland is preparing to take part in the Special Olympics Australian National Games after bringing home gold in the Victorian event last month. The national games are set to take place in Launceston from Friday, 7 October until Friday, 21 October, and Tameka will represent Ballarat out of list of 36 […]<\/p>\n