MELFORT 鈥� A Melfort couple was presented with a national award for more than three decades of volunteering with Special Olympics Canada
Dorothy and John Wickstrom were presented with the Jim Thompson Award at a ceremony Jan. 16 at the Melfort Curling Club. Dorothy started volunteering in 1988, while John followed after in 1994.
鈥淚 feel really good. I feel like I鈥檝e done something in this, I really do,鈥� Dorothy said. 鈥淚 love these people, these people love me. I know that. They still do. What more can I ask? It was fun.鈥�
Dorothy first brought curling to Saskatchewan for the Special Olympics.
鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 have curling. They can curl now until they鈥檙e 80, 90 if they want.鈥�
Her favorite part about Special Olympics is the athletes.
鈥淭here are so many things that bring smiles to your face with them,鈥� she said. 鈥淣aturally when they win, a lot of them didn鈥檛 know they were winning, that they had the right turn. But you smile and say, 鈥榦kay鈥欌��.
Dorothy still intends to volunteer as long as she鈥檚 able.
Their nomination started through Marlene Earl, secretary with Melfort Special Olympics, nominating them for a provincial award.
鈥淭hen once they won the Saskatchewan Honourary Life Membership award, then they emailed me and said, 鈥榳e鈥檙e putting their name in national, can you write another letter?鈥� I said, 鈥榮ure,鈥欌�� Earl said.
It was the amount of hours and dedication put in that was impressive to Earl.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just the hours and hours of behind the scenes work to start a brand new program in the province and to carry on and get other communities interested and see where it is now. It鈥檚 amazing.鈥�
Dorothy suggests people take up the opportunity of volunteering with the Melfort Special Olympics.
鈥淲e always need more volunteers in our organization,鈥� Dorothy said. 鈥淚t would be lovely if we could get enough that we wouldn鈥檛 have to be going so many times in a year. John and I had to go to almost four games, having to do three practices a week and looking after them. It鈥檚 a lot, it takes a lot.鈥�
鈥淎nybody who gets involved with these people will always stay involved with them. Once you鈥檙e hooked, you鈥檙e hooked,鈥� Dorothy said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the best thing you can do, it鈥檚 so much fun. I just wish people could have that experience. The experience with working with these people is unbelievable, and we鈥檝e learned a lot.鈥�
People interested in volunteering may contact Earl at 306-921-4218. Positions available include coaching, executive, member at large and fundraising.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so rewarding,鈥� Earl said. 鈥淚f you have a certain sport you would like to continue with in the coaching mode, or if you would just like to be a behind the scenes person.鈥�
