Article Contributed on: 10/15/2009 11:06:37 AM
Regis University is observing disability awareness with a special event on Oct. 15 featuring the Denver Harlequins wheelchair rugby team playing matches against the University's club rugby team and against a group of physical therapy students.
The activities begin at 8 p.m. in the Regis University Field house, located on the University's north Denver Lowell (main) campus.
An exhibition match begins at 8:40 p.m. The first challenge match at 9:05 p.m. features the physical therapy students against the Harlequins. The Regis University rugby club team takes on the Harlequins at approximately 9:25 p.m.
The Denver Harlequins have two Paralympic Gold Medalists - Chance Sumner and Jason Regier - who will be participating tonight.
Wheelchair rugby or "quad rugby" is the only sport designed for quadriplegics (people with a disability affecting all four limbs). Like the able-bodied sport, wheelchair rugby is fast paced and hard hitting. The rules are derived from basketball and hockey.
In addition to the challenge matches and exhibition match, the audience will also have a chance to get in the wheelchairs.
The event is sponsored by the Regis University Office of Disability Services, the Regis University Student Government Association (RUSGA), the Denver Harlequins quad rugby team and Quad Rugby Organization, an organization that provides wheelchair rugby players with the resources needed to improve the quality of their lives through competition, sport and camaraderie.