Swansea Storm Wheelchair Basketball Club has recently celebrated an impressive international tournament success with a helping hand from Wales & West Utilities, which provided new kit for players representing Swansea at the event in Poland.
Following the selection of seven senior Storm 1 players for an international wheelchair basketball tournament, the support went towards purchasing new travel kit, including training tops and hoodies. Competing as two 3x3 teams, the players enjoyed a hugely successful tournament, securing both second and third place.
The donation also helped fund the club’s end-of-season awards ceremony, where players’ achievements and contributions throughout the season were celebrated.
The club, which has been running for around 18 years and is based at the LC Swansea, is a fully inclusive wheelchair basketball club. Attracting players from across Wales, including Swansea, Cardiff, Porthmadog and Caernarfon, they make up five teams which compete in various national leagues as part of British Wheelchair Basketball.
Wales & West Utilities assisted the club as part of its commitment to support the communities in which it works. The gas emergency and pipeline service is working to upgrade gas pipes in the wider Swansea area.
Chloe Morgan, from Swansea Storm Wheelchair Basketball Club, said:“The annual tournament is organised to support Ukrainian veterans who have been injured in the war, using parasport as a means of rehabilitation. Wheelchair basketball is one of the sports chosen to help veterans through their rehabilitation, whilst also providing opportunities to connect with others through sport.
“We were delighted that Swansea Storm was one of several teams invited to take part, and the tournament provided our players with an incredible opportunity to meet and compete against new people, while experiencing wheelchair basketball on an international stage.
“We are grateful of the support from Wales & West Utilities - it means a great deal to our players, and us, as a club.”
Adam Smith from Wales & West Utilities is managing the gas pipe upgrade programme across Swansea, and said:
“We’re thrilled to support Swansea Storm and it’s wonderful to see the players who represented the club do so well on the international stage.
“We are always looking to support the communities in which we work and are proud that this funding made a difference locally.”
Wales & West Utilities is the gas emergency and pipeline service, delivering energy to over 7.5 million people across Wales and the south west of England. We don’t sell gas; we transport it through an extensive underground network of more than 35,000 kilometres of pipes.