By Micah Della Foresta – Staff Writer

On March 11 in Mitchell Gym, the fifth annual Marathon of Sport took place, hosted by the Bishop’s Motionball Organization. Motionball is a national not-for-profit organization with the purpose of introducing the next generation of donors, volunteers, and sponsors to the Special Olympics movement through integrated social and sporting events. Their mission is to create a sustainable funding model and base of supporters for the Special Olympics movement. It is a volunteer-led organization that hosts 50+ annual events in 18 Canadian cities and 34 university campuses.

The event transpired over the course of an afternoon, in which 10 teams were participating, each team with the individual responsibility to fundraise for the event. The afternoon began with an opening ceremony welcoming the teams and introducing the Special Olympic athletes, where they were then connected with their team for the day. The athletes then participated in an array of activities oriented towards fostering a united community, with an intentional focus on engagement and inclusivity. The marathon comprised five different events; Zumba, Ultimate Frisbee, bench ball (a variation of dodgeball), flag football, and a relay race. 

Tessa Bradshaw, a member of the executive team of the chapter on campus, explained that the day was a success, and that the energy was high throughout. She shared that “It was really awesome to see the community coming together and getting to see how much everyone involved really enjoyed it.” Bradshaw noted in particular “the happiness of all those participating, especially the Special Olympic athletes who were ecstatic to have the opportunity to play with people who care about them, and their rights as individuals.”

Over the course of the semester, the Motionball team has raised over $10,000 through this event and several others, including a dodgeball tournament and “No Good Way Day,” a day to raise awareness on the impact of using of the “r” word, and the devastating effects that it has on the neurodiverse community. By the end of the winter term, the team hopes to raise $15,000 in order to support Special Olympic athletes in our community. The group’s other objectives are continually growing involvement, solidifying the organization’s infrastructure on campus, and integrating the organization’s values into our society. 

If you would like to learn more about the event and offer your support, you can visit the Instagram page, @motionballubishops and there is a link tree in their bio if you would like to donate.