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S. O. athletes out having winter fun

Special Olympics athletes are skiing, curling, snowshowoeing and bowling, but best of all they’re smiling and having fun.
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Anne Forbes eases out of the hack.

They’re skiing, curling, snowshowoeing and bowling, but best of all they’re smiling and having fun.

“It’s a big social thing for our athletes,” Bulkley Valley branch Special Olympics board member Anita Clegg said.

“It also keeps them moving and being accepted in the community.

“To keep them physically active is a huge thing.”

That’s good news for the community because at this time last year, the board and administration of the Bulkley Valley branch of the Special Olympics were ready to retire and without new people stepping up, the program was at risk of shutting down.

“They had worked tirelessly for 20 years,” Clegg, a new board member, said in recognition of the previous board and administration.

“They’ve been unsung heroes for years and years, their biggest reward was the smiles.

“The previous board did a magnificent job, Gayle and Earnie Harding, Myrna and Art Mortenson, as well as many other volunteers.”

Currently, the Bulkley Valley branch of Special Olympics has about 30 athletes registered in their programs including bowling, curling, alpine skiing and snowshoeing.

One of those athletes is Candace Heather McCulloch, a long-time curler.

“Meeting friends,” McCulloch said with a big grin when asked what she enjoyed most about curling.

In the spring, Special Olympics athletes will switch gears and turn to track and field, soccer, bocce and swimming.

In addition to some new volunteers, the local Special Olympics committee has also received much-needed financial support from the community.

“We’ve been really fortunate with community support and financial support from businesses and foundations, so far in 2013 we’ve received $3,200,” Clegg said.

“That’s really helped our programs a lot.”

That support has enabled the local Special Olympics branch to initiate two new programs, Active Start and Fundamentals.

Active Start is for youth with intellectual disabilities aged two six and the Fundamentals program is for seven 11 year-olds.

The programs are held at Pioneer Centre and begin March 12 at 3:30 p.m.

For information call Sheri Maillot at 250-847-5728.

An important revenue stream for the local Special Olympics branch is bottle recycling.

Funds from bottles dropped off at the recycling depot, clearly marked ‘Special Olympics’ are funneled to the local committee.

Donations of time, funds and equipment are important for Special Olympics, Clegg said.

“And they are gratefully accepted,” she said.

“We can always use people that have skills to coach or just help with the various sports.

“Assisting the coaches is as important as being a coach.”

Local Special Olympics athletes are making their mark outside of the Bulkley Valley.

Luke Smith, along with coach Shannon Hurst, went to Kelowna last weekend to compete in the giant slalom event at the Snow Sport Festival.

Laura Strauss and Alison Norman, together with coaches Jeanie Crammer, Elise Strauss and Alliela Miller are headed to the B.C. Summer Games to compete in track and field.

In the end, whether the athletes participate at the local level or the international level, there is one underlying theme.

“It’s just as important to participate as it is to compete,” Clegg said.

For more information about Special Olympics call Rod and Donna Smith at 250-847-9004, or to register an athlete call Debbie Friesen at 250-847-4599.