Special Olympics BC – Prince George athlete Barbie Conway thinks this year’s Staples Canada Give a Toonie Share a Dream campaign was the best one yet.

The Give a Toonie Share a Dream campaign raises funds and awareness to help make dreams come true for Special Olympics athletes. During this important campaign, Special Olympics athletes and volunteers join Staples staff in stores to invite customers to donate at the till or online. The 2016 campaign, which took place from May 7 to June 5, raised more than $550,000 across Canada.

Conway said staff at the Staples store in Prince George did a great job of putting on events, including barbecues and a bake sale, that were exciting for SOBC athletes and a lot of fun for everyone who attended.

“The manager was really gung-ho about it and got the staff really involved,” Conway said.

This year marks Staples Canada and Special Olympics Canada’s 20th year of partnership. Over the last two decades, the Give a Toonie Share a Dream campaign has raised more than $7 million for Canada’s Special Olympics athletes, including more than $750,000 for SOBC athletes.

Conway said participating in SOBC programs has enabled her to make friends from all over the province, develop sports skills, and live a healthy life. As the Athlete Representative on SOBC – Prince George’s Executive Committee, she is especially thankful for the Give a Toonie Share a Dream campaign because she knows it plays an important role in supporting SOBC programs and opportunities.

“I know what the money does for us, so I know without those stores we wouldn’t have trips or all the sports we do,” Conway said.

Conway played a critical role in supporting the campaign in Prince George. She volunteered in the store whenever possible, recruited volunteers, helped organize events, and coordinated shifts for athletes helping out at the store.

“I lived at the store,” she said.