On September 21, we had the pleasure of participating in the motionball Marathon of Sport, an event that brought together our staff, supporters, and Special Olympic athletes for a day filled with fun, camaraderie, and meaningful activities. The event marked the end of our fundraiser, and we are thrilled to share the incredible results with you.

The day was packed with a variety of sports and games, including Bench Ball, Flag Football, Soccer, Kin Ball, Bocce, and more. It was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to engage in friendly competition and build lasting friendships. One of the highlights of the day was taking the #NoGoodWay to use the R-Word Pledge, a campaign dedicated to promoting positivity and inclusion, starting by eliminating the R-word from everyday conversation. We encourage all our readers to take the pledge as well by visiting motionball.com/nogoodway.

We are proud to announce that the total funds raised during the event amounted to an impressive $135,000. Our team alone raised $10,819, making us the second-highest fundraising team in Kelowna and the third-highest in Canada. This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and generosity of our team members and supporters.

A special congratulations goes to Greg Bickert, President & Managing Broker of Inspire Property Management, who was honored with the “Not” Alex Miller Award. This award is given to the individual who most exemplifies the true spirit of motionball, and Greg’s commitment and enthusiasm truly stood out.

Our team was a diverse group of individuals from various organizations, including:

Alyssa and Ethan, our VERY SPECIAL ATHLETES
Greg, Clara, Nick, and Scott from Inspire Property Management
Natasha from Nomac Appraisals
Aidan from BFL Canada Insurance Services
Sarah and Karly from Telus Communications
Cameron, Cara and Tanner from Stutters Restorations

We are also excited to share that Stutters Restoration was so inspired by the event that they have committed to donating an additional $1,000 to the charity. Their generosity is a testament to the positive impact that motionball has on our community.

Throughout the event, our team had the wonderful opportunity to get to know Alyssa and Ethan, the athletes assigned to our team. We heard firsthand how hurtful it continues to be when someone uses the R-Word. Our team gained invaluable experience in the benefits of inclusion and were rewarded with seeing joy in the faces of both our athletes and colleagues. As Alyssa put it multiple times on her way home from the event, “we won today!“

Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and supported our team. Your contributions have made a significant difference in the lives of Special Olympic athletes and have helped to create a more inclusive community. We look forward to continuing our support for motionball and the incredible work they do.

We are committed to sustain our support for Special Olympics Canada Foundation. We will continue to collect cash donations at our reception and we will add a link to donate online once our campaign for motionball 2025 begins. Stay tuned for more updates and future events. Together, we can make a difference!