Alberta Special Olympics

I am starting my 17th season competing in track and other sports through Alberta Special Olympics. In 2002, I went to my first national games in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and won a gold medal in long jump, and a silver in the 200-metre run.

To get this far, I've trained a lot – five times a week – and worked with coaches. It's a challenge, and it gives me something to do instead of watching TV. I also help some of the younger athletes.

Sports is also a chance to socialize. I've met a lot of people from Special Olympics in track, bowling and baseball.

Without lottery funds and other funding groups, we'd be nowhere. A lot of the 3,000 Special Olympics athletes in Alberta would be sitting at home, overweight, and doing no sports at all.

Fern Bremault
Calgarian Medal-Winning Athlete