Alon Dor-On, captain of Israel’s Wheelchair Basketball team faced off for some one-on-one play at the Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center’s sports hall with Ido, a student from Merhavim High School.
Dor-On came to the village as part of Tikkun Olam, ADI’s unique program developed to foster change in the way Israeli youth view and relate to people with disabilities, to meet and speak with students of the Merhavim High School who were visiting the Negev rehabilitation village.
Inspiring and moving for all listeners, Dor-On’s story is particularly encouraging for sports-oriented youth who have suffered injuries.
Born into an agricultural family from Binyamina, Alon Dor-On excelled at basketball. At age 15, while working in the family’s fields, Dor-On was involved in a work accident and though immediately rushed to the nearest hospital, doctors were unable to save his foot. After an extended period of rehabilitation, Dor-On realized that he would never be able to return to playing basketball as he knew it.
Later, when invited to watch a game of wheelchair basketball, Dor-On saw that despite his disability, he could continue playing the game he loved. Now captain of Israel’s Wheelchair Basketball team, Dor-On trains young athletes who have suffered accidents and helps them become professionals, driving home the message that athletes with disabilities are no less than any other athlete. His missive to athletes who have undergone accidents, “Don’t let your disability define you.”
ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran is proud to announce the opening of a new wheelchair basketball team based at the ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center sports hall.
Those interested in playing ball should contact Gili Paamoni, director of sports and hydrotherapy at ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran, at 052-685-1569.
