Fundraiser celebrates ‘Basketball For All’

Oceanside’s Challenger Basketball team took on Lynbrook as part of Oceanside High School’s first annual Basketball For All fundraiser on April 21.

The Challenger Basketball program — which exists in schools around Long Island — offers students with special needs the opportunity to play a sport they enjoy, as well as compete against other districts. The 12-player squad, coached by special education teachers Matthew McNally and Laura Garelick, typically plays eight games each season, but their most recent contest with Lynbrook was unique.

“We came up with this idea that we wanted to make kind of like a homecoming, playoff-type atmosphere for our kids, because they never really experienced that,” said McNally, a first-year teacher in the district.

Family, friends and teachers came out to support the students, as the program raised more than $2,000, according to McNally. A portion of the proceeds went toward jerseys and trophies for members of both teams, and the remaining money will be put toward Relay for Life, he added.

McNally said the students look forward to any opportunity to step on the court. He added that he, and his assistant, Garelick, were thrilled by the turnout, and hope to get more of the student body involved next year.

“I thought it was incredible,” McNally said of the event. “It really sheds a positive light on what this fundraiser could be in the future.”