KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Western Michigan men’s basketball team was back on the court at University Arena Wednesday without an opponent to face, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t come away as winners.
The Broncos joined forces with the Beautiful Lives Project, an organization that helps offer immersive opportunities for those with mental and physical disabilities, to allow members of the Michigan community to work on their basketball skills.
Players and coaches from the men’s team helped lead 50 adult and kid campers combined through several different stations that allowed the campers to practice shooting, ball handling, passing, rebounding and defensive skills.
“One thing that a lot of people don’t realize is how we can use our platform to really affect peoples lives and especially people with disabilities at this camp,” said Broncos center Max Burton. “It’s just a great feeling giving back to the community.”
As for the Broncos, a team that’s been back on campus for over a month, it offered them an opportunity to focus on matters other than improving their games. Instead, it gave them a chance to try and help bring happiness into the lives of others.
“It’s a big deal because we’ve been going, going, going and this is a breath of fresh air,” said Broncos head coach Dwayne Stephens. “Just a day where we don’t have to focus on us, we can focus on other people and how we can serve and help them.”
This was the fourth year that the Broncos and Beautiful Lives Project partnered together to bring a basketball camp to the Western Michigan campus. For more information on the Beautiful Lives Project, you can visit their website at www.beautifullives.org.