Lucile O’Garra, a resident of the Allen Community Senior Citizens Center in Jamaica, used to play tennis in the Police Athletic League. Today, she still plays the sport, but just in a different way – virtually.
O’Garra and her fellow senior citizens at the Center can now play tennis on the Nintendo Wii thanks to City Councilmember Leroy Comrie, who donated the system and projection equipment on Wednesday, July 22.
O’Garra said she enjoyed playing the virtual tennis game, especially since she cannot play physical tennis like she used to.
“Everybody wanted to try it this morning,” O’Garra said. “I’ll definitely be playing.”
Comrie and residents sat down for lunch and demonstrated the video game system’s capabilities for the others.
“It’s been proven in national studies that even passive exercise will make senior citizens healthy and give them a little more energy,” Comrie said. “It will give them an opportunity to have fun in a different way.”
Aurelia Workman, Director of the Center, has her own Wii at home, including the Wii Fit game.
“I think it’s a very good investment,” Workman said. “I was thinking that the Center could really use a Wii because everything you do, you’re exercising; you’re using your muscles.”
The Center currently has the Wii Sports package, which features games like baseball, tennis, bowling and boxing.
Comrie noted that he will be presenting six other senior centers with Wii game consoles.
“You’re playing a game, but you’re actually getting some exercise doing it,” said Comrie. “It’s a way for them to have fun, to socialize together, engage in a little trash-talking amongst themselves to see who can be the best virtual bowler.”
Comrie noted that each package, including the console, games and projection equipment, totaled around $1,200.
