OLDS — When Age Friendly Olds and the Community Lifestyle Committee donate proceeds from their Community Legacy Fund, they aren’t just supporting non-profit organizations – they are changing lives.
The Mountain View Hospice Society, Hope 4 MVC Kids, the Lending Cupboard and Mountain View Moccasin House are just a few of the many groups that have benefited from the fund since it began several years ago.
This year’s beneficiaries were decided at an Age Friendly Olds committee meeting recently and include Kirsten’s Place, Mountain View Hospice Society (formerly Olds & District Hospice), Olds Historical Society, Kiwanis Club of Olds, and the Olds & District Special Olympics, all of which will receive $1,000 through the fund.
A Legacy Brick campaign is underway to raise further funds to support community efforts through the purchase of a personally engraved stone to be kept on permanent display at Centennial Park.
“The funds that are raised in Olds stay in Olds, and we are proud to support the important initiatives these community groups are undertaking,” said Erica Sweetman, chair of the Community Lifestyles Committee (the umbrella organization for Age Friendly Olds).
With planning and training for this summer’s provincial Special Olympic Games underway, Olds & District Special Olympics Chair Karen Mengersen appreciates the committee’s donation to help offset expensive travel costs.
There will be 10 Special Olympians headed to Grande Prairie in July, where they will compete for the chance to move on to nationals next year.
“Our affiliate is one of 25 in Alberta and it covers Olds, Didsbury, Carstairs, Sundre, Innisfail and Bowden, so travel is a big part of the planning,” said Mengersen.
Mengersen became involved with Special Olympics in 1995 to support her son Mark who has Down’s Syndrome.
“They will be competing in swimming, golf and 10 pin bowling at the Olympic Summer Games in July.
“We took athletes to Vancouver in 2014 and PEI in 2018, but then we were curtailed by the pandemic so everyone is excited for the provincials this summer.”
Eighteen coaches and volunteers combine their efforts to offer an array of sporting events for athletes in 11 different sports, including soccer, bowling, curling, basketball and alpine skiing.
They take part in both summer and winter competitions, and recently began a dryland program to prepare Olds & District athletes heading to provincials.
“We have amazing community support, including a volunteer fitness coach and donated fitness centre time at the CLC (Community Learning Campus) to help prepare our athletes,” said Mengersen.
“Everyone says ‘don’t look Karen in the eye or you’ll be helping with Special Olympics.’ To be honest, it’s not difficult to get people to help and we have a really engaged community.
“They know the benefits to these athletes. They gain confidence and are so happy to be interacting with one another.
“This is one thing these people can do and enjoy, and it adds to their well-being. They are proud to contribute and belong. Behind their challenges, they are people who want and deserve to be happy.”
Mark Mengersen took his love of 10 pin bowling right to the World Special Olympic Games in Abu Dhabi in 2019, after competing at the National Games in Prince Edward Island the year before to earn his spot on Team Canada by bowling 60 points over his average. He travelled with other athletes from across Canada.
The donation from the Community Legacy Fund will help make costs as accessible as possible for athletes to participate in all levels of competition.
You can read more about Karen and Mark Mengersen’s Special Olympics adventures at this link, and learn more about the Community Legacy Fund on their Facebook page at this link.
