May is in the rearview and the Special Olympics Sunshine Coast spring season is coming to a close.
However, for Stephanie Rogers, Amber Fenton, Lindsay Pearson, Hailie Borowski and Genny Verge, their hard work and dedication all year continues and will culminate in Prince George from July 10 to 12, as they swim their hearts out at the 2025 Provincial Summer Games.
These exemplary women gather each week for rigorous training both in and out of the water to further develop their strength and skills. All of them demonstrated this by beating their personal bests at a swim meet one month ago!
Lindsay swims three times a week, as well as walking from home in West Sechelt to pool practice. “It’s going to be awesome!” she says enthusiastically.
Amber Fenton works with a personal trainer via Zoom and is “very dedicated and committed to bringing home a medal.”
Stephanie’s dad, coach Gary Rogers, reports that she continues to prepare for the Games with land and water, physical and mental training and is feeling fit and ready to roll.
And of course, we know that Genny maintains her consistent training efforts and will continue to amaze us with her prowess.
For the rest of our roster, June marks the closing of programs until registration day in September. Chuck Betrand, Golf Head Coach, his eight athletes and four dedicated assistant coaches thank the Blue Ocean Golf Course general manager Ken and his staff for the “VIP Treatment” they show them.
Of course, being a volunteer-based organization, Special Olympics is reliant on the generosity of its staunch supporters. One such group has shown this for 35 years.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run first began in 1990. Officers from across the province walk or run with SOBC athletes while collecting donations from community members and corporate or service clubs. They also sell t-shirts.
This year the run goes from May 24 to June 8. This flagship campaign starts in February or March with the Polar Plunge and finishes with the torch run in the warmer months.
On Sunday, June 1, SOSC hosted a table at Mission Point Park in Wilson Creek at the annual Pride Festival. The atmosphere was cheery, colours bright and smiles all around. We were lucky enough to gather some names and numbers for possible volunteering, which was our ultimate goal, having new faces and fresh outlooks to move our athletes and us forward.
This year’s annual general meeting for SOSC is happening Monday, June 23, at the Gibsons Rec Centre and will take place directly after the last soccer game of the season.
To all the volunteers who have been so wonderful this year, best wishes and have a lovely summer and we look forward to seeing you in the fall!
