‘#ChooseToInclude trending in Canada’: Local Special Olympians benefit from donut sales
Kerry Cloney is getting in some extra bowling practice as she prepares for her next provincial tournament.
The Special Olympian from London, Ont. is excited to be back after the pandemic wiped out so much of her playing time.
“I can compete, visit and go to all different places,” says Cloney when asked why she loves the sport.
Her husband Brian, also a Special Olympian, has been competing for 40 years.
“I would actually guess I probably got over 100 plus medals over the years,” says Brian, who is proud of his days playing floor hockey and soccer (in which he won an Ontario Cup).
Brian Cloney shows off his Ontario Cup soccer medal. He has achieved more than 100 Special Olympics medals over the past 40 years. Pictured in London, Ont. on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023 (Brent Lale/CTV London)This weekend, both of them are beneficiaries of the proceeds from the Tim Horton's Special Olympics donut.
Each donut, purchased for $2 this weekend, helps local athletes.
“If you look at the hashtag ‘choose to include’ that we've been using for the donut, I think (Friday) it was up around third or fourth in the country trending,” says Derek Spence, manager of the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Money raised helps with field and arena rentals, equipment, uniforms, and travel expenses to play in tournaments.
“Last year, we were fortunate enough to partner with Tim Hortons and raise $600,000 across the country,” says Spence.
“$300,000 of which was raised right here in Ontario. That goes a long way towards helping the 26,000 athletes in Ontario that are involved with Special Olympics.”
100 per cent of the proceeds from the Special Olympics donut at Tim Horton’s goes to local athletes competing in Special Olympics Canada pictured in London, Ont. on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023 (Brent Lale/CTV News London)
Athletes like the Cloneys.
Brian says his floor hockey and soccer teams have been named Ontario team of the year in the past due to their knowledge and implementation of their oath
“When I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt,” says Brian. “That's based on good sportsmanship, like how we present yourself to the opposition team and your positive attitude.”
The pandemic cancelled the past three Ontario Provincial games. This summer the high school games will resume, then Kerry and three other London bowlers will compete in Waterloo, Ont. in the spring of 2024.
“We'll be able to see old friends that I haven't seen over two years plus going on three years now, since everything's shut down,” says Kerry.
Brian hoped everyone got out and got a donut before the program finished Sunday night.
“It helps athletes like us participate in events and travel around the world,” says Brian. “It also helps volunteers participate so they can help athletes’ dreams come true.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.
Djokovic needs medical attention after getting knocked on the head by a water bottle at Italian Open
Novak Djokovic needed medical attention after apparently getting knocked on the head by a water bottle after a win at the Italian Open on Friday.