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4 | InTouch WINTER 2024 NEWS ROUNDUP Powerchair football is a competitive team sport for people with physical disabilities who use powerchairs for their mobility. The rules are similar to outdoor football with a few modifications. Players include people with quadriplegia, neuromuscular conditions, cerebral palsy, head injury, spinal cord injury and other disabilities. The game is played in a gymnasium on a regulation North Auckland Rebels Powerchair Football Club We are always looking for new people to join us. Check out our Facebook Page, North Auckland Powerchair Football , for more information on trainings. Trainings are generally fortnightly on a Saturday 10.30 – 12.30 pm at the Massey University Gymnasium, Albany Campus. Alternatively, you can email Sean McColl, President : ssmccoll@xtra.co.nz Join the team! Ollie’s building memory Ollie Bunting unexpectedly passed away on 3rd May 2024, age 4, and while only a part of the MDANZ community for a short time, his memory lives on. Ollie was diagnosed with Intermediate Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in September 2022, while his family was living in Australia as part of a New Zealand Defence Force posting. He was then accepted onto a mini-dystrophin clinical trial and received gene therapy in March 2023, in Sydney. Ollie spent a lot of his short life in hospital and had numerous emergency hospital admissions. He is fondly remembered by hospital staff both in Auckland and Sydney, as a vibrant, cheeky boy who loved building Lego, always with his orange teddy close by. On 30th May 2024, Ollie’s parents Mike and Rebecca, along with Ollie’s two older brothers, donated 200+ Lego sets to the Starship Foundation in memory of Ollie. The Above: Ollie’s family donating Lego at Ward 26A in Starship Hospital. to hear that Lego sets have already been given to some boys living with DMD. In addition, Rebecca’s local gym, F45 Massey, held a Quiz Night on 14th June 2024, in memory of Ollie and raised $2,070 which has been donated directly to the Starship Foundation. It is hoped that Ollie’s memory lives on as the DMD community continues to work towards a cure. Lego was gratefully received by the Play Specialists, Doctors, Nurses and Support Staff of Starship Ward 26A Neuroservices, where Ollie was a frequent flyer and spent many hours building Lego. The generous donation collected by Ollie’s family and friends will be proudly shared by the Play Specialists and will hopefully make childrens time in hospital a little brighter. It’s been wonderful basketball court. Two teams of 4 players use their powerchairs to attack, defend and spin-kick a 13 inch football in an attempt to score goals. Every powerchair has a guard to hit the ball. REQUIREMENTS All players: • Need to be using a powerchair • Must be 8 years and over • Must have sufficient control to ensure everyone’s safety. FSHD Group Meetings If you or a family member have FSHD, there is an online support group who meet every second Wednesday of the month on Zoom, from 7pm – 8pm. Email info@mda.org.nz for more information.