Team St. Luke’s gets ‘keys,’ chance to travel nationally

Team St. Luke’s, Spokane’s Youth wheelchair sports program, received a new set of wheels this week from the Appleway Automotive Group. The keys to a newly donated Suburban will allow the sports team to have reliable transportation to expand their attendance at regional and national competitions. A “key ceremony” took place Monday at the Appleway Automotive Chevrolet Showroom, 8500 E. Sprague Ave.

“Our opportunities for the kids to compete have been greatly expanded through this generous donation,” said the team’s Coach Teresa Skinner. “There are many events throughout the year that our positive young athletes participate in, with families who diligently provide support and energy. This Suburban will be powerful enough to pull our trailer of wheelchairs, sometimes carting up to 16 chairs to any one event!”

The St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute partnership with The Appleway Automotive Group, local dealership and national affiliates of AutoNation, will benefit the 50 athletes of Team St. Luke’s currently participating in a variety of sports, including: power soccer, track & field, swimming, archery, weightlifting, basketball and table tennis.

Team St. Luke’s has competed annually at the Junior Wheelchair nationals, starting in 2000 with two athletes, and has grown to 20 athletes last year. The team includes three athletes who have qualified for the International USA Junior Team, and seven athletes have been chosen to participate in an Elite Training Camp in July.

St. Luke’s Rehabilitation, a not-for-profit organization located in Spokane, is the largest rehabilitation hospital in the state of Washington. It has won numerous national honors for the innovative and cutting edge services it provides.