Special Olympics Airdrie caps off annual fundraiser
The Special Olympics Airdrie organization and the Airdrie RCMP recently teamed up for a good cause.
With the Cora, Cops and Crepes fundraiser, which was held March 9 and 10 at Cora’s in Airdrie, Special Olympics Airdrie volunteers, athletes and local law enforcement officers raised more than $3,400 as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), a longtime international event, which raises money for Special Olympics groups around the world.
The $3,400 from the Airdrie event was added to money raised from events that were held in Calgary and Okotoks. The three fundraisers combined raised almost $27,300, surpassing the groups’ $25,000 goal.
“It’s amazing,” said Jen MacDougall, a volunteer with LETR and Special Olympics. “All through the entire event we’ve definitely seen an increase (in money raised), so it’s awesome.”
The money raised from the LETR events go to Special Olympics and helps fund equipment and the implementation of new sports and activities and the events help raise awareness about the organization, MacDougall said.
“The biggest thing is awareness,” she said. “The funds are the key to sustaining the program and it’s so that the athletes can do what they want to do. It’s about showing that intellectual disabilities aren’t a bad thing. Most of the athletes do more sports than we do and it’s about giving them opportunities to succeed at life and be able to do the things they want to.”
The LETR is held in conjunction with the Special Olympics Winter, Spring and Summer Games. This year’s Spring Games are being held April 19 to 21 in Red Deer and the Summer Games will be held in Devon June 21 to 23. The next torch run will be held just prior to the Spring Games, April 9, from Calgary to Red Deer.
Sue Farkas-Fillatre, media coordinator for Special Olympics Airdrie, said the partnership with the local law enforcement helps Special Olympics in Airdrie send athletes to the Games.
“They’re one of our bigger contributors and supporters,” she said. “It’s huge because of stuff like this we’re able to fund tournaments and send athletes to special events. It’s also given us the opportunity to open up new sports, like our floor hockey.”
Airdrie will be sending seven athletes, six bowlers and one swimmer, to Red Deer in April and will be introducing a new sport as a trial in May, but are keeping what it is under wraps.
For more information on Special Olympics Airdrie, visit the groups Facebook page or website www.specialolympics.ab.ca/airdrie
For more information of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, visit www.albertatorchrun.ca
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