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The annual student-led event raised around $14,000 for the Special Olympics on Saturday
Varsity and Special Olympics athletes came together for a good cause Saturday as part of Motionball’s Marathon of Sport.
Motionball is a national non-profit dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the Special Olympics. The University of Guelph Chapter hosted the organizations’ flagship event, which brought more than 120 university students and local Special Olympics athletes together for a day of athletic competition and inclusion.
The event was held in the Guelph Gryphons Athletic Centre and saw smiling participants ranging in age from 11 to 71.
Last year, the event raised a total of $11,000 for the Special Olympics through its fundraising, registration fees and raffle.
“This year we are on track to do $14,000,” said co-director Emily Bulmer. “We’ve tripled our amount from when it started, and we’ve just grown every single year.”
This year there were nine teams, each with three or four different Special Olympics’ athletes, and members from varsity sports teams and other student groups.
At the end of the event, the Special Olympics athletes receive a medal.
“That’s always a special part of the day when we get to celebrate them all,” event director Samantha Wheadon said, adding that the day is a great way to make friends.
There were six stations: soccer, bench ball, basketball, bin ball and hand ball. This year they also had a virtual reality station from Ctrl V, which very quickly became a fan favourite.
The event is something the athletes look forward to every year, Bulmer said – especially the dance party at the end, often coming prepared with choreographed dances (which many later did with beaming faces).
The U of G Motionball chapter started about seven years ago; Bulmer has been part of the organization for four years.
“Growing up, I did competitive sports, and that was such a great way for me to meet so many lifelong friends and get active and have fun,” event director Sarah Hardy said.
“It’s nice to support the Special Olympics, which provides (the athletes) with the same opportunity,” she said.
Bulmer said from her standpoint, the best part of the event is seeing the impact it has on the community.
“Athletes and parents come up to me and say (they) look forward to this every year. They have made lifelong friendships with other athletes and also us as well,” she said.
“This day is really awesome,” said Keegan Granger, a basketball player who has been attending Motionball events for the last three or four years.
Athlete Taylor Redmond, who has a host of accolades for basketball and track and field and co-hosts a sports radio show on CFRU 93.3, is a long-time supporter of Motionball events.
“I can go on and on (about Motionball),” he said. “It’s just a fun day.”
“I get to bond with my friends more,” he said. “I cannot thank these girls enough.”
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