[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 83 (Wednesday, June 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E849-E850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF THE LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION AND THE 2013 NATIONAL 
      INTERCOLLEGIATE WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SPENCER BACHUS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 12, 2013

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, it is the privilege of the State of Alabama 
and the City of Homewood to be the site of the renowned Lakeshore 
Foundation, a center whose focus on personal fitness and competitive 
athletics has benefited countless individuals with physical 
disabilities throughout my state, our country, and the world.
  Lakeshore started as a hospital dedicated to treating the national 
scourge of tuberculosis in the 1920s. In 1984, it became fully focused 
on its current mission: to provide rehabilitative recreational and 
sports programs to improve the lives of people with disabilities. At 
Lakeshore, the connection between physical activity, from basic fitness 
to competitive athletics, and emotional restoration is understood and 
nurtured.
  The world-class athletic facilities at Lakeshore Foundation are used 
by individuals of all ages, from young children to senior citizens. It 
is a training location for the U.S. Paralympic Team. After 9/11, it 
created a special program called ``Lima Foxtrot'' to help courageous 
wounded warriors recover their physical skills after severe injury.
  Most recently, Lakeshore Foundation and the University of Alabama at 
Birmingham have formed the UAB/Lakeshore Research Collaborative. The 
joint effort between Lakeshore and UAB is a world-class research 
program in rehabilitative science. The collaborative links Lakeshore's 
extraordinary programs for people with physically disabling conditions 
with UAB's research expertise.
  A special event took place from March 7 through March 9 of this year 
when Lakeshore Foundation teamed with the University of Alabama and the 
National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) to successfully host 
the National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Association 
Tournament. The University of Alabama is known for having one of the 
top adaptive athletic programs in the nation.

[[Page E850]]

  Eight men's teams and four women's teams from across the country 
competed in the tournament.
  In the women's finals, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater team 
defeated the University of Alabama team 55-41 to become the 2013 
Women's National Champions.
  In the men's finals, the University of Alabama team came out 
victorious, defeating the University of Texas-Arlington 71-52 to become 
the 2013 Men's National Champions.
  The wheelchair play on the Lakeshore basketball courts was every bit 
as intense as you would have seen during the NCAA's ``Final Four.'' The 
lesson that athletes on each of the participating teams taught us about 
determination and overcoming obstacles made them all champions. The 
event brought great pride and honor to the State of Alabama.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
combined efforts of the achievements of all the players, coaches, and 
staff who contributed to the championship season and to congratulate 
Lakeshore Foundation and the University of Alabama for successfully 
hosting the 2013 National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball 
Association Tournament. Under the leadership of President and Chief 
Executive Officer Jeff Underwood, the Lakeshore Foundation will 
continue to change the way we think about physical disabilities and 
challenge all of us to expand our horizons.

                          ____________________