Mid Canterbury Special Olympians are in training mode, and fundraising, for this year’s national championships in Christchurch.
Eleven athletes have been selected to represent the district in bocce and swimming events. It runs from December 10 to 14.
Coach and manager Colleen Lindsay said the cost to attend was $750 per athlete and financial help, as well as volunteers, were needed.
A movie night fundraiser was planned this month, but Colleen was keen to hear from schools, groups or people with fundraising ideas and opportunities.
She said the team had opted to travel rather than get accommodation in Christchurch to keep costs down.
It meant drivers were also needed to transport the two teams with coaches and managers, to and from the city each day, she said.
The Special Olympics summer games in the city will see more than 1300 athletes and coaches from all over New Zealand compete in 10 different sports at seven venues.
Swimmers will compete at the new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre in the city, and bocce at nearby Sir Richard Hadlee Sports Centre in Hagley Park.
Competitions started about 8.30am and finished about 5pm.
Colleen said Mid Canterbury’s training in both sports had ramped up and athletes had also competed on Sunday at a national’s practice event at Jellie Park, in Christchurch.
It included the enforcement of rules around events, including disqualifications, in line with national standards and would be a good performance indicator for the Mid Canterbury contingent.
Members of the Mid Canterbury Special Olympian team are: swimmers – Trevor Nish, Dominica Cotter, Megan Isherwood, Ella Gardner, Fergus Wilson and Cody Robin; bocce – Peter Thomson, Joanne Inwood, Emma Hurst, Stu Chesmar and Peter Judge.
- Movie fundraiser – Mid Canterbury Special Olympics fundraising movie night to the premiere of blockbuster film F1, featuring Hollywood heavyweight Brad Pitt. It is screening at Regent Cinema Ashburton on June 26 at 7pm. The movie is from the director of Top Gun Maverick and has had rave reviews. Tickets $22, contact Anne-Marie on 021 027 07393.
