CONCORD, N.H. - Over the weekend, members of the New England College men's basketball team volunteered to participate in the 15th annual Hoops on Wheels Basketball Tournament hosted by Granite State Independent Living (GSIL) at the NHTI Concord Community College Wellness Center. 

On Saturday afternoon, the Pilgrims traveled to Concord to help fundraise and increase awareness for the GSIL, an organization which promotes quality of life with independence for people with disabilities. For the 15th consecutive year, the Hoops on Wheels event empowers people with disabilities around the state of New Hampshire to live their best lives. 

In the all-day basketball tournament, all participating players maneuvered the court using wheelchairs – whether they have a disability or not! The event's focus on bringing awareness to people with disabilities was not lost on NEC's student-athletes:

"It gave me a new perspective on what it means to be challenged. It shows how inspiring it is to be able to still compete and adapt."  

- Shawn O'Keefe '27 

"Saturday's event provided awareness for the challenges people who are wheelchair bound have in every day tasks."  

- Jayden Welch '28. 

"Hoops on Wheels gave me a whole new level of gratitude not just for my own health and ability to play; but for the resilience that wheelchair bound people have in overcoming their own challenges in life."  

- Ryan Elliott '29 

"Life in a wheelchair is about navigating a world that isn't always built around people bound to a wheelchair." 

- Ryan Wilson '29 

The NEC student athletes walked away from Saturday's Hoops on Wheels Basketball Tournament with a new outlook on life for those with disabilities. 

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.