Thanks from the Whitecourt Special Olympic

By Susan Hofforth

The Whitecourt Special Olympics has a lot of people to thank for its Canada Day celebrations. From the float in the parade to the barbecue in Rotary Park, it was a very successful day.

“Whitecourt as a community has been fantastic,” said the team’s Head Coach, Shannon Leonard. “Everyone, everywhere has been willing to pitch in and donate.”

The fundraising booth raised money for the team to compete in an upcoming bocce tournament in St. Albert on August 8. “The experience for the team will be fabulous,” said Leonard. There will be a dinner and a dance and socializing. It’s more than a competition. Whitecourt’s Special Olympics Team has 20 athletes ranging in age from 19 to 54.

Jason and Debbie Hird of Jason Hird Trucking donated the T-shirts and the benches for the float. Curves Whitecourt always brings water to the team when they are practicing outside their building. Thanks also to ASAP, Big Rock Oilfield Services, Sniper Pressure Services, Whitecourt Canadian Tire, Adam Kienzle, A & W Whitecourt, Mountain Pizza And Steakhouse, Total Oilfield Services, Whitecourt Walmart, Remax Whitecourt, Versatile Dirtworx, Midfield Supply, Denim Design, Ryan Clagget, Miranda Leonard, Loretta Little, Romona Mombourquette, Tanya Keough, Holly Smith, and Lyndon Keough.

The team also wants to thank Staples in Whitecourt for the in-store fundraiser organized every year to support the Special Olympics, and for helping to find the artists who painted the Special Olympics logo on the float. Thanks to Montana Johns and Tori Gould, grade nine students, for their work in making the float look great.