Kudos to the Sports & Rec staff, especially Cindy McGuire and Brandon McBeain, for their quick response in finding a wheelchair for Moira, a seven-year old girl with cerebral palsy. Moira's wheelchair was stolen Monday and the story was reported on Fox 9 news. A Fox 9 reporter and cameraman came to Courage Center Tuesday evening to video Moira and her mom trying out the wheelchair the sports staff had available. It's a sports chair and, unlike her old chair, enables Moira to wheel herself. Within moments, she was wheeling through the hallways and doing 360 degree turns. She even got a chance to meet one of Courage Center's star athletes, Chuck Aoki, who raced with her in the gym and taught her how to shoot a basketball.
Moira left - reluctantly - with the wheelchair on loan for as long as she needs it and an invitation to return Saturday to check out the basketball program for kids her age. The video of Fox 9's report, in which Cindy acted as Courage Center spokesperson, is at http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/minnesota/moira-stomberg-new-wheelchair-jan-10-2012.