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Health & Fitness

New Local Sports Foundation Funds Training For Paralympic Judo Hopefuls

The newly created Game On! Sports Foundation funds two female athletes who dream of competing for the U.S. in the Paralympics in the sport of Judo.

Just barely out of the gate, the recently launched Game On! Sports Foundation is already running at a gallop. Thanks to a successful fundraising event at the end of January, the foundation awarded scholarships to two young female Judo Paralympic hopefuls associated with Brett Wolf, head instructor of the Menomonee Judo Club/ Wolf Judo, the official judo Paralympic National Training Site.

Connected through a Game On! Sports Foundation Board member, Brett reached out to the foundation after hearing about its mission. Brett heard that the foundation seeks to impact young girls' lives by connecting them with quality sports opportunities. More specifically, he learned that the foundation’s mission is to fund scholarships allowing motivated girls to attend quality sports camps and programs who otherwise would not have the financial means, as well as to support organizations and projects which provide quality sports opportunities for girls.

Enter Sara Luna, age15, and Gaia Iaccarino, age 21. After hearing of their dreams to compete as Paralympic athletes in the sport of judo, and their challenging circumstances, the Board of the Game On! Sports Foundation could not resist. By unanimous vote, the Board awarded Sara and Gaia, both sight challenged (the qualification for a judo paralympian), $2,500.00 each for training expenses necessary to start them on their competitive journeys.

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With the help of these funds, the results have already paid off big time for both athletes.  A few weeks back, Sara and Gaia competed for the Menomenee judo club team at the Illinois State Judo Championships in Sugar Grove, IL. 

Gaia scored two decisive, full point victories to earn a gold medal. Since then, she has also travelled to the Senior (adult) National Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where she took the gold and clinched qualifying for the Para Pan American Judo Championships.

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At the State meet, Sara also earned a gold medal in the teenage girls’ visually impaired division, and took a silver medal in the sighted 14 & 15 year old girls’ division. As a result of her performance, Sara has been asked to represent the United States at the World Youth and Student Championships as well as the Para Pan American Judo Championships.  Both events will be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado during the weekend of July 12th – 14th.

“The funding that the Game On! Sports Foundation saw fit to give these worthy athletes has been absolutely vital in helping them reach their goals,” Brett said to Barb Lazarus, President of the Game On! Sports Foundation. Brett continued, “Of course, the fact that Sara and Gaia are dedicated athletes is a critical piece of the pie. But without the support of the Game On! Sports Foundation, the training and competitive aspects are not possible. Sara and Gaia now consider the Foundation as part of their team and are more motivated than ever to repay with progress.”

The Game On! Sports Foundation welcomes donations for continuing success in funding female athletes like Sara and Gaia and other deserving young female athletes. For information on how to donate, visit our website at gameonsportscamp.com/foundation or call the Game On! office at 847-229-9959.

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