On Saturday, 14 September, Children’s Rehabilitation Day was celebrated in the Ghetto Games Sports Base in Grīziņkalns (Riga, Pērnavas iela 42) – a celebration for children and teenagers with mobility impairment, their families, friends and relatives. The event jointly organised by the Rehabilitation Centre Poga and retail trade network SIA Maxima Latvija brought together more than 500 participants from all over Latvia.
During the event, the wheelchair racer Juris Kalniņš congratulated the kids and encouraged them by sharing the story of how he became an athlete and the important role that physical activity plays in his life. Meanwhile other Paralympic athletes demonstrated wheelchair tennis, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball. Kids could also try their hand at a unique type of sport – Shooting Para Sport.
Juris Kalnins, wheelchair racer, who enjoys healthy and active lifestyle, greeted the participants of the celebration and encouraged everyone to be active: “My inspiration comes from people who have been disabled for a long time and I have understood that sport opens a lot of possibilities for us – improve your health, find new friends, create opportunities to travel. You don’t need an expensive equipment or specially adjusted spaces. All you need is an outdoor court, willpower and good mood. That is why, I wish you to be active and enjoy this day!”
During the celebration, kids could try out various sporting activities themselves or together with their family members – an opportunity provided by the Latvian Sports Federation of Children and Young People with Disabilities. Various creative workshops were available throughout the day, the kids had an opportunity to watch their favourite cartoons or participate in canine therapy organised by the therapy dog association Maigais suns. The children competed at table hockey tournaments organised by the Latvian Table Hockey Federation and participated in fun relay races together with athletes from the Latvian Athletics Association.
“Our purpose today is to show that rehabilitation is not all about hard work, that we must celebrate it as well. It is important for kids and families to be together and feel the support of the society, to meet experts and have a good time together. As a long-time supporter of the Rehabilitation Centre Poga, Maxima Latvija understands the needs of families and kids, and provides significant support,” Rūta Dimanta, Head of the Charity Fund Ziedot.lv, emphasises during the opening of the Rehabilitation Day.
“We stand for families and their well-being, so for two years we have been working closely with the Children's Rehabilitation Centre Poga to help kids with functional disabilities. During these two years, together with our customers and partners, we have donated EUR 314,000. This money will help to provide rehabilitation courses to more children here in Latvia,” Valdis Zeps, Chief financial Officer at Maxima Latvija, comments.
“Rehabilitation Day is a celebration with the dream of creating a better and happier day-to-day life for children with movement impairments and their families. This is a day when families can meet up and experience a beautiful day with their closest people,” V.Zeps adds.
The Children's Rehabilitation Day is an event within the framework of a charitable action jointly organised by the Rehabilitation Centre Poga and retail trade network SIA Maxima Latvija. It aims promote the development of rehabilitation industry for children with mobility impairments and to increase awareness and public understanding of the needs of these children.
Additional information:
Ilze Ošāne
Charity Fund Ziedot.lv Communications Manager
Tel.: +371 29400422
e-mail: ilze@ziedot.lv
Jānis Beseris
Head of corporate affairs at SIA “Maxima Latvija”
Tel.: +371 29666603
e-pasts: janis.beseris@maxima.lv
