SPOKANE, Wash. — ParaSport Spokane has officially found a new home that has more space and is better equipped to help the program inspire more parasport athletes who come to Spokane from all over the country.
The organization went searching for a new space following the end of its 7-year lease at Valley Christian School, which ended this fall.
ParaSport Spokane Development Director David Greig says the organization looked into several different locations, including the former Mountain View Middle School building, which also functioned as the former Spokane County Sheriff's Training Facility, but initially ruled it out because of the location and the fact that it lacked a track space.
But after nearly 7 months of searching and with the 2026 Paralympics on the horizon, ParaSport Spokane worked with the East Valley School District and decided to make Mountain View its new home.
"You know we struggled to find space it was quite concerning," said Greig. "It just kind of came down to who wanted to work with us ultimately and Brian Talbott and the group at East Valley have just been amazing."
Greig says the organization has close to 200 members in a wide variety of ages throughout all of the programs ParaSport Spokane provides.
And while some athletes come to have fun with other people who share similar life experiences, some athletes like Lindi Marcusen have taken what they learned through ParaSport Spokane all the way to the Paralympic level.
"I acquired my disability later in my life as an adult and I thought my life as an athlete would be over," said Marcusen.
But Marcusen was one of three athletes who represented ParaSport Spokane at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
"I did just get back from the Paralympic games in Paris and my athletic journey after acquiring a disability wouldn't look like it does today had I not been a part of ParaSport Spokane," said Marcusen.
She says organizations like ParaSport Spokane are critical to help everyone understand that whether someone is are born with or if they acquire a disability, it does not define what they can do.
"There is life and it looks a little different but that doesn't mean it's bad," said Marcusen. "Fifteen percent of people in the world have physical disabilities so we are servicing that fifteen percent and making sure they have a place."
ParaSport Spokane will be hosting the 2024 Spokane Showdown wheelchair basketball tournament on Oct. 19 and 20 at the HUB Sports Center. Greig says that over 150 athletes will be traveling to Spokane from all over the West Coast to compete.
For more information about available programming, visit the ParaSport Spokane website.