A Kelowna curling team is winning championships and doing it while being blind.

The Kelowna Blind curling club defended its provincial title and is now headed to the Canadian Vision Impaired Championships in February.

The team is composed of five players, one of which is a designated sweeper for those players who are totally blind and don’t have the ability to sweep.

The sport of curling means much more than just a game for these players.

"I just wanted to come and get out and all of a sudden I enjoyed it tremendously,” said Brian Lechelt who plays second.

Lechelt said he cannot see well or even see the numbers on the rocks.

“All my life because of my sight I wasn't very good at sports,” he said. “But now I am.”

Players on the team range from being partially blind to fully blind.

Dawna Loewen, the skip for the provincial team, used to curl for years but quit when she started to lose her vision.

She didn’t think she’d be able to play again until someone introduced the light broom to her.

“Without the light broom, I wouldn't be able to see down at the other end of the ice,” she said.

The light at the bottom of the broom will shine bright red when activated through the push bottom at the top.

“It is red, so it stands out and then you focus on that light and throw your rock towards it,” she said.

Another teammate and the lead of the team, Bill Mah is completely blind and has been involved in the program since its creation in 1990.

“For myself, as a totally blind person I require a lot more hands on, verbal cues, actual positions, it is more hands on for myself,” said Mah.

“I just love it, the simple fact of losing your sight shouldn’t prevent you from having fun," said Lechelt. "If all your parts work except your eyes, let's go for it.”

The team will head to nationals in Ottawa during the first week of February.