Letters

Removing pingpong from CenterPlace does disservice to lovers of the game

During recent months you have printed letters from senior members of Spokane Valley Senior Center Association protesting the transfer of table tennis (pingpong) from CenterPlace to Hepton Point. The senior board president has always commented about a lady breaking her arm playing at CenterPlace as a reason for the move. I am that lady!

I am sad and upset that my broken elbow may have provoked the drastic cancellation of all table tennis at CenterPlace.

Seniors have to recognize any incidental limits from surroundings plus limits due to their own muscle capabilities. It is a great use of mind and muscle to help a senior maintain those capabilities.

The physician of one of our players wants him to have nitroglycerin pills with him at all times, just in case. Consider this: CenterPlace is barely l  1/2 miles from Valley Medical Center emergency room. Hepton Point is about six miles farther! That’s at least 6 minutes farther away, when seconds count. It could be the difference between life and death.

If the senior center board is so concerned about accidents, why transfer senior players that much farther from an emergency room?

When I moved to Spokane Valley in 2008 I was delighted to discover pingpong at the Spokane Valley senior center. I’ve enjoyed the rush of competition for more than 50 years. I acknowledge my own limitations and I volunteered at the time of my accident, “I’m sorry, it was my fault.”

By the way, injuries could occur while ballroom dancing or line dancing, both wonderful exercise for seniors. Would the senior center cancel these activities due to a sprained ankle, or twisted knee?

Maggie Peluso

Spokane Valley