ESTEVAN - Local Special Olympic athletes and first responders came together last month for a fundraiser at the Estevan Girls Softball diamonds.
The Special Olympic youth athletes played the first responders in the morning and had their chance to shine in the afternoon. Lunch was served between the games.
Event spokesperson Conrad Meili – whose wife Kandyce was part of the organizing committee alongside Kirsten Walliser, Agnes Garrioch and Dallas Gilliss – noted they had received questions for months about when the softball games would be happening and he was pleased to see so many people come out to play.
“There was a lot of enthusiasm for our participants, and if that can’t motivate you, I don’t know what will,” said Conrad Meili. “I’m very happy that we were able to pull it off. A big credit to the organizing committee in getting it together and pulling it off.”
The event organizers believe it’s important for people with disabilities to be familiar with the first responders in the community, Meili said, including the Estevan RCMP, the Estevan Police Service, the Estevan Fire Rescue Service and Estevan EMS.
“Some people, until you get the time to know them, you may not even realize that they have their challenges. It’s breaking down that barrier and getting out there and meeting people,” Meili said.
The games seemed to be really well received by both the Special Olympic athletes and the first responders. They had 36 participants in the adult game and 26 for the youth.
Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen tossed out the first pitch and even took an at-bat.
Meili also credited Estevan Girls Softball for getting the field in top-notch condition, helping set up the PA system and unlocking the concession.
The game happened on a busy weekend in Estevan, with the Western Canada Baseball Championships, the Heretics Motorcycle Club’s Ride for Memphis fundraiser against muscular dystrophy, and the Estevan Downtown Business Association’s Street Fair, so Meili was pleased with the number of people who participated.
Special Olympics had some sponsorships for the food and the barbecue to feed all of the athletes for free. There was also a 50-50 during the day.
“It was not intended to be a monetary day,” said Meili. “It’s a little bit more about raising awareness, similar to past years.”
Proceeds from the event will be directed towards the season-ending bocce ball event that Estevan Special Olympics will host in late September.
