Nov. 11, 2009
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's basketball team will help raise awareness for the Therese Riedel Injury Fund at its home-opener on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Viejas Arena. The Aztecs' annual game with the University of San Diego Toreros is set to begin at 7 p.m. PT.
"This coming Tuesday will truly be an exceptional evening," SDSU head coach Beth Burns said. "Celebrating our 2008-09 team's successes prior to our Viejas home opener and playing against our cross-town foe USD would seem to be plenty. But the added bonus of the evening is the opportunity for all San Diegans to hear the story of an exceptional young woman, Therese Riedel, who has been a friend of Aztec Basketball since her early days as an SDSU camper."
Riedel grew up in San Diego, where she starred for the Grossmont High School girls' varsity basketball team. After earning a scholarship to the University of Idaho, she transferred closer to home to play basketball at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, Calif. While at a team-building event at the beach in September 2008, Riedel was swimming and struck her head on a sandbar. The impact of that collision caused a burst fracture in her fifth cervical vertebrae and she is now a quadriplegic.
This past June, she entered a rehabilitation program called Project Walk, which is not covered by her family's insurance. This innovative and intense physical training program focuses on extending beyond the limits of what those with spinal cord injuries are currently capable of.
" `T', as she is called by most, hasn't had a bad day since her accident; rather, just the opposite," Burns said. "She is a bundle of contagious enthusiasm, ever the prankster, and her optimism and incredible positive attitude is an inspiration to everyone around her. She has made remarkable progress and raves about her experience at Project Walk.
"Whether at Grossmont High, or beyond, `T' has always been a great teammate. Right now, she needs an assist. Don't bet against her. We surely don't. We believe in her, and her will and drive to walk, run and play again. Anything you can do to help will be valued and appreciated. This is a time when all of our San Diego basketball community can reach out and give back to one of our own."
Riedel and her family and friends will be on hand at the game to collect donations and give out information on Therese's Spinal Cord Injury Fund, which is administered by the National Transplant Assistance Fund's Catastrophic Injury Program, and will help the family cover injury-related expenses. A table will be set up in front of the entrance gate on the concourse at Viejas Arena and Therese and her family will be introduced on the court at halftime.
Tickets for the SDSU-USD game can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 619-220-8497 or via ticketmaster.com. Fans can also visit the Viejas Arena Box Office or the Aztec Ticket Office at Qualcomm Stadium (window E).
For more information on the Therese Riedel Injury Fund, search "Therese "T" Riedel #42 Updates" on facebook.com.