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Celebrity Breakfast for Special Olympics returns to Red Deer

Since before the COVID-19 pandemic the Special Olympics Celebrity Breakfast after two years.
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Red Deer’s Thomasina Payne was honoured by Special Olympics Canada as the Athlete of the Year for 2021. Payne has been involved in Special Olympics for the past 18 years and has competed in curling, athletics and speed skating. (Photo by Special Olympics Canada)

A popular fundraiser is making its return to the community.

For the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, Special Olympics Red Deer will be holding its Celebrity Breakfast fundraiser next month.

The 14th annual event will take place at the Harvest Centre at 7:30 a.m. on June 15.

The Celebrity Breakfast is a fundraiser meant to raise money for the Special Olympics.

There will be two speakers - Olympic speedskater Maddison Pearman and Red Deer Special Olympics athlete Thomasina Payne.

Pearman has represented Canada on the international level on a number of occasions, including at the Beijing Olympics earlier this year

She represented Canada for the first time in 2013 at the World Junior Championship and again in 2015. She has also competed in the Four Continents Championships in 2020 and won silver in the 1000 metre and 1500m. Soon after competed in the World Cup in Calgary.

At the Canadian Long Track Championships in 2021, she won bronze in the 1000m and came fifth in the 1500m. She is an ambassador for Fast and Female and has been a coach for Special Olympics speed skating.

Red Deer’s Thomasina Payne has competed in multiple sports including speedskating, curling, and athletics.

Through her dedication, she has had podium finishes in all three sports at the provincial, national and international level.

“She is known for her sense of fair play, sportsmanship, willingness to take direction and advice from her coaches and to always be respectful to her fellow athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers,” the release read.



Ian Gustafson

About the Author: Ian Gustafson

Ian began his journalism career as a reporter in Prince Albert, Sask. for the last three years, and was born and raised in Saskatchewan.
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