Amputee Stand-up Basketball Teams Face Off

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wright & Filippis AmpuTeam Spartans, a team of stand-up (not wheelchair) amputee basketball players, will challenge a fellow amputee basketball team, AMP1, at Royal Oak Shrine High School in a charity basketball game at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9.  In conjunction with the game, AMP1 team captain, Scott Odom, will present his story to the Royal Oak Shrine High School students in a pre-game awareness assembly.  Supporting the message in his book, Stand Up: I Lost My Leg to Cancer, Not My Dream, Odom seeks to inspire others to put adversity behind them so they can follow their dreams and overcome the challenges faced in life.

The teams will demonstrate how, with the help of modern high-tech prosthetics, sheer determination, and their love of the sport, they have overcome lower limb amputations. Currently, the AmpuTeam Spartans and AMP1 are the only organized teams of amputees playing stand-up basketball in the country.

"We're proud to be among the first organizations to put together such a game. This event provides opportunity for awareness of the advancement of prosthetic technology as well as to showcase just how far an athlete's perseverance can take them," said Kurt Schlau, Prosthetics Director for Wright & Filippis. "This should be an action-packed game."

Brad Shebib, coach for The AmpuTeam Spartans, said, "The team is just really excited about the opportunity to play AMP1 and show their skills and determination as prosthetic wearers."

Doors for the event will open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the door with proceeds benefiting the Filippis Foundation and the P.L.AY. Foundation, two non-profit groups that support services and programs for the disadvantaged and physically challenged. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for kids/seniors, children 10 and under are free. Snacks and refreshments will be available for purchase. Shrine High School is located at 3500 W. Thirteen Mile Rd. in Royal Oak.

AMP1, sponsored by prosthetics manufacturer Freedom Innovations, makes Detroit its second to last stop on its 2011 National Tour. The AMP1 team vision is to grow amputee, stand-up basketball into an organized, national league.

About Wright & Filippis

Wright & Filippis is a Michigan-based healthcare company specializing in prosthetics, orthotics, respiratory care services, and home medical equipment and supplies. Founded in 1944, Wright & Filippis is the state's largest full-service home healthcare provider with 36 state-wide offices. For more information, visit www.FirstToServe.com

About Wright & Filippis' AmpuTeam

The Wright & Filippis AmpuTeam Program offers amputees the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to achieve their unique individual functional goals and the opportunity to resume full participation in all aspects of their daily life. For more information, visit www.amputeamprosthetics.com

About AMP1 Basketball

AMP1 is the only organized, traveling stand-up amputee basketball team in the nation. In its games and motivational presentations, AMP1 members demonstrate that all you need is courage, motivation, determination and heart to follow your dreams. Anything is possible! Learn more at www.amp1basketball.com

About Freedom Innovations

Freedom Innovations engineers, manufactures, and markets advanced technology prosthetic devices that provide people with physical challenges the ability to reach their full potential. Based in Irvine, CA, Freedom's lower-limb prosthetics are distributed in 39 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.freedom-innovations.com

SOURCE Freedom Innovations