Community Supports Local Special Olympics

2015/06/17Local Interest

Submitted by:
Shirley Todosichuk |


Special Olympics Manitoba Awareness Week June 8-13 was celebrated in the Swan Valley with a BBQ Hamburger Fundraiser on Wednesday, June 10th, 2015.


Star and Times photo by Stacy Grindle
Click any picture for a larger version.

The side walk in front of Home Hardware was bustling with activity as the Swan Valley Lions Club expertly manned the grill and the athletes and volunteers served out burgers and refreshing beverages. Peter Wilk, Special Olympics Manitoba Board Director from Winnipeg also came out to support our athletes and promote the Accept WITH NO Exception Campaign.

The back of Home Hardware was also busy as pre-orders were being assembled for delivery. Over 20 wonderful volunteers helped to make the fundraiser a success. 400 delicious burgers were sold giving our Parkland athletes a profit of $1500.00.


Star and Times photos by Stacy Grindle

Thank you to all who came out to support our Special Olympic Athletes by pre-ordering and purchasing lunch. A Big Thank you to the Swan Valley Lions Club for grilling up the burgers in the hot summer sun! We would also like to thank the local businesses for their generous sponsorship of our event; Home Hardware, Swan Valley COOP, Extra Foods, A&W, the Star and Times, Valley Biz and Doug Chapman.

Our Special Olympics Parkland Region Executive is proud of our Swan Valley Community who take the Accept WITH NO Exception message to heart. It is evident how supportive and caring our community is. Special Olympics Manitoba President and CEO Simon Mundey is quoted in an interview as saying “People with intellectual disabilities have a place in community, just like everyone else. We’re just trying to make people aware of the fact that our athletes have abilities and we want our athletes to be the best they can be, and to be treated like everyone else would be treated.”

The Parkland Region is already planning an event for Special Olympics Manitoba Awareness Week 2016 and would like to keep the Accept WITH No Exception movement alive all year long.