"I can't wait to see all my friends new dance moves when we get back to our programs."
YOUR DONATION WILL BE MATCHED!
A generous donor has committed up to $60,000 in matching funds for Draft an Athlete.
My sport:
Kelsey participates in Active Start/Fundamentals. Her mother, Tracey (the one helping to fill out this questionnaire!) is the head coach of our local program, and Kelsey’s big sister Naomi is a Junior coach.
My favourite thing about Special Olympics:
Kelsey enjoys seeing her friends each week and playing games – especially dodgeball and Freeze Dance.
My greatest accomplishment:
Kelsey hasn’t participated in any competition yet, but she has been to many send offs for her fellow Special Olympics PEI athletes and she loves to cheer the loudest!
How Special Olympics changed my life:
As a coach, Special Olympics has given me (Tracey) the opportunity to watch my athletes succeed in conquering a skill that has been challenging for them, and to celebrate with others who understand just how much perseverance and determination it took to get there! Some of my athletes began our program before they were even able to walk, and now I am watching them do team relays and obstacle courses! It is so rewarding as a coach to think that I may have had a hand in getting them to that point.
I am also a Registered Dental Hygienist and I was so fortunate to be able to participate in the Healthy Athletes program and talk with athletes about the importance of oral health and the impact that having a healthy mouth can have on your overall health. I was able to give athletes some tips on good food and drink choices and also some demonstrations on brushing and flossing to make sure they are keeping their teeth and gums in top-notch condition. Last winter, I had the opportunity to travel to Nova Scotia to team up with their Special Smiles team to provide dental screenings for athletes at the Provincial games. What an incredible event!
How I've been staying healthy and active at home:
Early in the pandemic, Kelsey and I had a lot of fun setting up an obstacle course in our backyard and we took videos of Kelsey and her sisters going through the course as quickly as they could. We posted it to our Facebook page and challenged our fellow Active Start/Fundamentals athletes to make up their own obstacle course and post a video of them completing it. Throughout the summer, we did lots of biking as a family, riding stretches of the Confederation Trail that we hadn’t completed yet. We participated in a Virtual 5k run for Special Olympics PEI, a fundraiser hosted by Dion Phaneuf and Elisha Cuthbert to raise money for our programs.
My favourite memory:
Lives Gala each year and going on stage with Dion Phaneuf. Unfortunately, it had to be cancelled this year due to the pandemic but she is already looking forward to next year’s event.
Why you should Draft an Athlete to help us get back to the playing field:
By donating to Special Olympics, you are promoting social change, acceptance and inclusion. You are affording individuals with different abilities the opportunity to participate, compete and THRIVE in sport. You are part of something amazing.
What I'm looking forward to most when returning to our regular Special Olympics programming:
It will be so great to get back to see all of our friends and be able to have our fun games nights. And of course we can’t wait to see what everyone has for new dance moves when we warm up with Freeze Dance!
Make a donation to support Kelsey and her fellow athletes across Canada:
YOUR DONATION WILL BE MATCHED!
A generous donor has committed up to $60,000 in matching funds for Draft an Athlete.