Yvonne McBride remembers once scoring 166 at bowling (300 would have been perfect), but that was many years ago.

On Thursday, however, the senior rolled the ball down a lane again, thanks to some students and a Nintendo Wii game console.

McBride, 74, lives at Calgary's Southwood Care Centre, which received five of the video game systems Thursday from students at the nearby Foundations for the Future Charter Academy.

Yvonne McBride gets some tips from students from the Foundations for the Future Charter Academy.
(CBC)

"Hold B. Yep. OK, so let go of B, and hold it again," one student explained to McBride as she sat in her wheelchair and guided the game that's controlled by body motion with her arm.

The students raised $2,500 for the systems after they heard the home was looking for something different to keep its residents busy.

"They were asking because it gets the elderly more motivated and moving, so they have more mobility," explained Grade 7 student Breanne Smith.

The seniors were delighted with the gifts, which they said proved there are "good kids" out there.

The Wii units, which include sports like tennis and baseball, can help hand-eye co-ordination, but the centre's recreation therapist, Linda Jeffrey, said there can be social benefits, too.

Nintendo Wii games are controlled by body movements.
(CBC)

"It's another thing they can communicate about, because it is present day, using the technology," she said.

"They can talk to their own children. A lot of adults play this with their kids, so not just the grandchildren."

Aiming for her first strike, Claire Hill, 77, said: "It is new and it is interesting, which breaks up the boredom that we have around here."

In less than an hour, McBride got her first spare, and she plans to keep working on her Wii skills.