Many thanks to the Douglas College Royals Heart of a Lion Women’s Basketball Team for coming to the Coast and offering Special Olympic athletes an amazing experience at their basketball camp, held Saturday, Oct. 20 at Roberts Creek School gym. The athletes and coaches learned many new drills, experienced two hours of intense training and loved every minute of the camp.
A special thank you to Ellen Fallis for continuing to support Special Olympics Sunshine Coast. She volunteered as a student assistant when she was in grades 11 and 12 at Elphinstone, and since attending Douglas College she has supported the women’s basketball team coming to host a development camp on the Sunshine Coast for the past four years. What a wonderful example of giving back to your community. We are thrilled that they continue to bring their skills and joy of basketball to the Coast.
Douglas College women’s basketball head coach Steve Beauchamp said it is his third visit to the Sunshine Coast for the Special Olympics training camp. He has a lot of new players this year so it is a great way to bond as a team. His daughter Rachel is a leading rebounder on the team.
Amber said, “It was awesome, I can’t wait for them to come again next year!” Coach Samantha Giampa from Gibsons Special Olympics basketball team was delighted that almost every member of the Gibsons team attended. Coach Marilyn Downey and Marion West from Sechelt basketball also attended the camp. The Sechelt team will host Gibsons next week at Sechelt Learning Centre Thursday evening.
If anyone is interested in volunteering or participating with Special Olympics sport programs, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Kim Fenton or Program Coordinator Katie Borowski.
See www.specialolympicssunshinecoast.ca to find out more.
– Submitted by Pat Stuart, local coordinator, Special Olympics
