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UPDATED: Red Deer celebrates its Special Olympians

12th annual Special Olympics Celebrity Breakfast
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Olympic bronze medalist Mellisa Hollingsworth talked about her Olympic experience at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver at the 12th annual Special Olympics Celebrity Breakfast. (Photo by SUSAN ZIELINSKI/Advocate staff)

Olympic bronze medalist Mellisa Hollingsworth wants to encourage Special Olympians to live with passion.

“There is nothing better than having that purpose, when you wake up in the morning and being passionate about your sport, your training,” said Hollingsworth after her speech at the 12th annual Special Olympics Celebrity Breakfast Wednesday at the Harvest Centre at Westerner Park.

She said it’s important for Special Olympians to be happy and proud of all their accomplishments.

“And enjoy every moment because before you know it, it is done and over with and you’re retired and old like me,” she said with a laugh.

Hollingsworth, who was raised on a farm near Eckville, spoke to breakfast guests about both her achievements and disappointments during her career in skeleton racing.

She said people should take ownership of both their highs and lows.

“You can come out and just say ‘I’m sorry.’ And when you’re vulnerable it’s amazing how people will be compassionate and be on your side.”

Jerry Tennant, chairman of Special Olympics Red Deer, said Hollingsworth was a terrific fit for the breakfast because of all the challenges she has been through.

“She knows what it’s like to fail, but also succeed. And she’s just an inspiring athlete who didn’t give up, continued her sport and had great success at the local, national and international level,” Tennant said.

The annual breakfast is the biggest fundraising event for the local group and helps subsidize the costs for Special Olympians. Older athletes are often on some kind of social assistance, he said.

“Last year we sent 55 athletes to the provincial games in five sports. We have nine athletes who are part of Team Alberta taking part in the Canadian national games in P.E.I. Some of them just came back, the bowlers, and the rest of the teams go to Nova Scotia in July. Some of them will go onto World Games as part of Team Canada.”

Tennant said the breakfast will probably raise about $12,000 to $14,000.

Special Olympics Red Deer works with about 300 athletes and has a team of 75 volunteers.

“We’ve grown in numbers this year. We’ve grown in numbers of volunteers. Our fundraising is right on track so it’s actually been an excellent year.”



szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

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