PONCHATOULA — For one day, dozens of adults with special needs were able to put aside their daily physical and mental battles and just play ball thanks to the charity event Ballin’ 4 Options. It’s an event hosted by Options to get adults with disabilities involved with physical activity and teamwork through a game of basketball. Options is a disability services agency that helps adults with disabilities with residential, vocational, and transportation services.
“We’ve been here since 1973. We were founded by parents who needed services for their children who are now adults with disabilities, and we do all kinds of things to help people with disabilities to live and work in the community,” Carrie Mercke, CEO of Options, explained. “It was a need that we noticed—folks with disabilities were often sort of left out of the wellness conversation.”
Ballin’ 4 Options was founded by a community member, Jeff Day. Mercke noted that this event is held in honor of Day after his passing.
The event was held Saturday, September 19th from 1-3 p.m. at the Ponchatoula Area Recreation District 1 (PARD) gym in Ponchatoula.
The game featured players with disabilities playing four quarters of full-court, assistance if-needed basketball. The event hosted roughly 400 attendees and featured two teams, the Purple Knights and the Orange Rockets, with around 20 players for each team.
Cheerleaders, mascots, and a halftime show were all presented as a part of the festivities.
“We couldn’t do this without our volunteer support, we have about 120 volunteers that make this happen,” Mercke said. Each team gets six months of practice and training to help with preparation on the big event.
Ballin’ 4 Options also featured special guests, which included former Harlem Globetrotter and Bel-Aire alumni James “Big Brown” Joseph, former Indiana Fever head coach and Central Private alumni Christie Sides, the Southeastern Louisiana University Lions men’s basketball team, the United Cajun Navy, among many others.
“It’s great to see that basketball lives within all generations and all kinds of people,” Joseph told UWK. “No matter what their handicaps are, they’re out here playing basketball and that’s what the unique thing is about being out here today.”
Joseph added that he believes businesses and organizations should get more involved with events like this and get the community involved.
Aspirations for what the future holds with this event certainly focuses on growth and community involvement.
Options CEO Mercke remarked on how she envisions Ballin’ 4 Options to grow over the next few years.
“The plan is to keep showing up year-after-year. Every year it grows, every year we add some new and exciting element. The sky’s the limit.”
This event concluded it’s 9th year and organizers are looking forward to year 10.
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