An Olds and District Special Olympics volunteer has received some high praise.
Karen Mengersen, chair of Olds and District Special Olympics, highlighted the achievements of volunteer Misty Olsen on Special Olympics Alberta's Facebook page during Giving Tuesday (Dec. 2).
Giving Tuesday is the day after Black Friday and Cyber Monday – two big shopping days following American Thanksgiving.
Giving Tuesday is described as “the opening day of the giving season,” when “charities, companies and individuals join together and rally for favourite causes,” according to Special Olympics Alberta (SOA).
Special Olympics Alberta chose to mark the day by encouraging people to celebrate Special Olympics athletes as leaders.
In her piece, Mengersen said Olsen, an athlete and a volunteer with Special Olympics Olds and District, is actively involved in swimming, bowling and softball.
As reported in the Albertan, earlier this fall, Olsen was elected to the Athlete Leadership Council with Special Olympics Alberta, representing (the) central zone. She also attended the B.C. Athlete Governance Workshop in Vancouver.
Mengersen said Olsen volunteers with three of four Olds and District Special Olympics bowling sessions.
“(She) is a great encourager of our athletes,” Mengersen wrote.
She also pointed out Olsen is planning to start a youth volunteer program in the community.
Mengersen said Olsen is creating a PowerPoint presentation about Olds and District Special Olympics. She also plans to visit the high school and college to recruit volunteers for local Special Olympics programs.
“Whether they're volunteering at school competitions, as athlete committee members, as coaches or public speakers, they are proving that people with intellectual disabilities are vibrant, active, talented members of their communities,” an SOA news release says.
“Athlete representatives from all corners of Alberta are proudly taking part in Athlete Leadership -- a program designed to empower athletes to provide feedback about sports programs, athlete rights and responsibilities, and provides tools to be Special Olympics speakers.
“For Giving Tuesday, Special Olympics is strengthening our athletes' voices and is an opportunity for everyone to support the program through helping spread the message on social media, donations, and volunteering at local programs,” the news release adds.
“Athlete leadership provides an opportunity to foster our athletes' drive for self achievement. With over 3,000 athletes in our province, our provincial and local athlete leadership representatives are a direct bridge of feedback from our athletes,” says Johnny Byrne, president and CEO of Special Olympics Alberta.
Byrne says the program helps those athletes build “confidence, self-esteem and self-empowerment.”
