Two Strathmore residents taking on Special Olympics

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Two Advocacy in Motion Society (AIMS) clients are asking the community for financial support in their quest to raise money for Special Olympics Calgary, where they will hit the bowling alley with their customary teams for the sixth annual Bowl-a-Rama event on March 19.
Cory Szmydt and Curtis Heenan have already approached businesses and families around Strathmore and Langdon over the past few weeks, and were met with copious amounts of support to meet their personal goals, participate, and support the upcoming fundraising event.
According to the staff at AIMS – an organization that ensures all people with developmental disabilities are contributing members in their community – Szmydt received donations from their staff, and some of Strathmore’s financial institutions, drug stores, and members of the community. Szmydt has already raised $315, exceeding the necessary entrance fee, but shy of his goal of raising $1,000.
“I have participated before, and I’m fundraising and seeing how much money I can raise for the people of Calgary and surrounding areas for the sports they involve us in,” Szmydt said. “I accomplish a lot of different things and I’m very sociable. I just enjoy the atmosphere of it and I love to have fun every day.”
While the sixth annual fundraising event requires participants to contribute only $50, the money raised continues to subsidize the weekly program fees, as well as costs associated with transportation and other special needs. Currently, Special Olympics Calgary covers 50 per cent of the athletes’ bowling costs, and 75 per cent of funding is a result of special events and community donations.
“It lets them get involved in sports, whereas they might not be able to join a regular league and to be able to do all of what Special Olympics actually brings to these guys is fantastic,” said Rob Heenan, Curtis’s father.
“Without it they are limited what they can join and participate in. This is their own deal and they can compete against each other. It’s fabulous.”
Curtis, a 25-year-old and avid fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, which is reflected on his customized bowling balls, got involved in the sport three years ago with a goal of participating in the Special Olympics one day. With it being his first time participating, he aims to beat his personal best score of 141 and dreams of scoring three strikes consecutively.
“I love to bowl and I like to meet new people,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the Bowl-a-Rama… and hopefully next year I can go to Medicine Hat to bowl in another tournament. I just want to do it for fun.”
Rob Heenan also noticed much improvement in his son’s bowling abilities over the past three years and together they have approached individuals in their community, Langdon, for contributions. While Szmydt is also hoping to beat his personal best of 222, the athletes seemed more excited about the glow-in-the-dark bowling and after-party. To support Szmydt and Heenan contact AIMS at 403-934-4888.