After living in Siem Reap for over year, I have recently become involved in supporting the Siem Reap Wheelchair Basketball Team by helping with coaching and assisting the project in any way that I can.

Siem Reap has a very interesting past, and the effects of the Khmer Rouge still has a massive impact on the lives of local people to this day. One of these effects is from landmines, with an estimated four to six million mines and other pieces of unexploded ordnance in Cambodia. As a result, many people have tragically died and lost limbs which has significally effected the lives of innocent local people.

Many of the victims struggle to integrate themselves into a society which already struggles with issues such as poverty. Soulcial Trust is an NGO that operates a programme called XLability (www.xlability.org), with the aim to support those that have been affected by disability using the rehabilitative power of sports. They have started the first wheelchair basketball team in Siem Reap (the third in all of Cambodia). For most of the people who attend the weekly trainings, this is the first time they have ever played wheelchair sports, and even though it’s only been 2 months since the team was formed, they have seen incredible improvements in their skills and strength. The programme has had a massive impact on participants physically, socially and mentally.

I aim to complete the Angkor Wat Half Marathon on 3rd December along with one of the team members, Bel who will be completing it in a wheelchair for the first time, and Mikey Jay, to help raise funds to support the development of the team. The funds that are raised will help to provide things such as transport, coaching and kits, and in may other ways.