"I proved that I am able to do sports after being told all my school years by teachers I wasn't coordinated enough."
YOUR DONATION WILL BE MATCHED!
A generous donor has committed up to $60,000 in matching funds for Draft an Athlete.
My sport:
Floor hockey, Athletics, Bocce.
My favourite thing about Special Olympics:
I like that all the athletes are given the skills and opportunity to succeed based on their abilities. No one is denied opportunity, no one is judged on success vs failure rather praised for attempt/effort.
My greatest accomplishment:
First off, proving that I am able to do sports after being told all my school years by teachers I couldn’t as I wasn’t coordinated enough. Traveling to Nationals in 2010 for the summer games I competed in 5 pin bowling. The weeks/ months leading up to games my bowling got stronger and I bowled the best I ever had and came home with a Individual BronzeMedal, to me I had won gold!
How Special Olympics changed my life:
Special Olympics has allowed me to be me without ever being told no you can’t, rather let’s try. They have opened doors and opportunities for me from traveling to competitions, to giving speeches and being able to share my story of growing up with a disability, being bullied and how it affected me and how Special Olympics changed that, to allowing me to share my love for art by being asked to design the art which was the vision for the cauldron for the 2019 Alberta Provincial Winter Games. Special Olympics has given me life, purpose and a voice.
How I've been staying healthy and active at home:
Have you participated in any virtual programs such as Walk The World With Me or Special Olympics online workouts or nutrition activities? During COVID-19 I have been staying safe, but also staying active. I have been going for long walks on nice days, or doing the stairs in our building, or using our Cubii to keep moving. I did online workouts with Special Olympics Calgary and saw myself getting better at some of the stretches! I also attended a few of the nutrition workshops and tried some of the ideas.
My favourite memory:
This is hard as I have many special memories. From being selected as Alberta’s Female Athlete of the year in 2011, being named as a one of the recipients of the LETR’s International Executive Council Athlete Award in 2012, to being a Guardian of the Flame and proudly standing beside the cauldron which was built from my vision … at the 2019 Alberta Provincial Winter Games. But I think the real memories are the friendships I’ve made with athletes, coaches, members of the LETR and sponsors.
Why you should Draft an Athlete to help us get back to the playing field:
Donating to Special Olympics means you are making the difference in the life of someone like me with a disability. You are providing us with opportunities to get fit, stay fit and compete if we choose. Your donations help with giving us access to facilities to train and compete in as well as most importantly make new friends, and win at life.
What I'm looking forward to most when returning to our regular Special Olympics programming:
Holding onto my skills, reconnecting face to face with other athletes/friends, coaches and supporters of Special Olympics.
Make a donation to support Leonka 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.