A BASKETBALLER is set to hit the hoop in Germany next year to represent Australia in the Special Olympics World Games.<\/p>\n
Following her trip to Tasmania to take part in the national games, Tameka Strickland will set off for Europe in June alongside 64 other athletes.<\/p>\n
Strickland said she\u2019s \u201cvery excited\u201d to be able to play her favourite game overseas.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw some of my mates that I\u2019d played with in Tassie were going so I was wondering whether I\u2019d get the email too and I was like what?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I went pretty good in the Tasmania games. I got the bronze medal so I\u2019m looking forward to the experience of this trip. I\u2019ve never been overseas ever.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll be very different because it\u2019s the world games, and you\u2019re representing your whole country. Before I was representing either Ballarat or Victoria.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a huge step up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Strickland will play as part of a team of eight which includes three people she played with in Tasmania.<\/p>\n
Listed as a C grade player, Strickland, who has an intellectual disability, has been playing basketball since she was 12 years old.<\/p>\n
Strickland is looking to raise around $10,000 in order to make the trip with her mother Nicole, via the GoFundMe and the Special Olympics donation pages.<\/p>\n
Other fundraising events include a trivia night in March organised by Special Olympics Victoria.<\/p>\n
Strickland\u2019s mother, Nicole, said she\u2019s \u201cblown away\u201d at the opportunity her daughter\u2019s been given.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t think the world games would happen at all,\u201d she said. \u201cIt opens up so much for her. It\u2019s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re pretty hopeful we\u2019ll get the money together but after Tasmania it\u2019s like here we go again. We\u2019re pushing it and looking for sponsors and donations. We\u2019ll get her there.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A BASKETBALLER is set to hit the hoop in Germany next year to represent Australia in the Special Olympics World Games. Following her trip to Tasmania to take part in the national games, Tameka Strickland will set off for Europe in June alongside 64 other athletes. Strickland said she\u2019s \u201cvery excited\u201d to be able to […]<\/p>\n