Rotary Manurewa Takanini recently welcomed a second special guest to our joint meeting: the Papakura Special Olympics team. Karen, Gracie, Ella, Rebecca, and Caleb joined us and shared their powerful stories.
Gracie spoke about how Special Olympics Papakura offers a year-round program of sports training and competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. She explained how maintaining basic fitness through sport has changed many lives through the experience of being part of a team.
Karen, who also works at Rosehill School, spoke passionately about the group's mission to send 41 athletes to the Summer Games in Christchurch. She emphasized how participating in both the summer and winter games has a profound, life-changing impact on the athletes. Being part of a team gives them a sense of belonging and helps them grow.
We were especially inspired by Ella, who has been a dedicated swimmer since 1985. She proudly showed off her incredible collection of medals, a testament to her hard work and passion.
The team is actively fundraising $120,000 for the trip and has already reached an impressive $90,000. To help close the gap, they brought delicious Whittaker's Chocolates for us to purchase. The club was thrilled to support their efforts and help these deserving athletes achieve their dreams.
The Papakura Special Olympics are also a valued and familiar presence in our community. They always participate in the Rotary Papakura Christmas Parade, and their creative floats are often the float winners on the day!
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