Game changer
Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
This year is promising to be a brilliant one for the members of the CBS Brightstars and their supporters as the community club for Special Olympians, one of the biggest and most active in the country, gears up for the provincial games in July.
The club consists of 55 athletes, 25 coaches, and 18 volunteers, most of them from CBS, but also drawing from neighboring areas.
Nearly everyone associated with the group, has a special memory of how they joined.
Edie Newton, who handles marketing, communication, and fundraising for the Brightstars, volunteered when her daughter Theresa became a Special Olympian. Newton remembers that Theresa was hesitant at first, but that quickly changed.
“We got there and all the athletes, all the moms, all the coaches, were just so welcoming,” said Newton.
Theresa, whose left leg is amputated below the knee, participated in rhythmic gymnastics, snowshoeing, bowling, and swimming. She is now attending college for aesthetics and spa management. Newton credits the Special Olympics with the amazing change she witnessed in her daughter. “She never would have come out of her shell,” said Newton. “She gained so much confidence and gained so many skills from doing the program over three or four years that it was amazing.”
Gail Baker, the CBS Brightstars coordinator, got involved 20 years ago when her stepdaughter, who has special needs, moved to the area to attend the College of the North Atlantic. Even after her stepdaughter moved away some years later, Baker stayed involved.
Shirley Miller, the club’s program coordinator, got involved with her daughter, Heather, who is a Special Olympian and the CBS Brightstars’ athlete representative. Heather graduated from school in 2000, and her family longed to get her involved with something. That decision led to many friendships for both mother and daughter.
“She had been in hospital, and the social worker there recommended Heather getting involved in Special Olympics,” said Miller. “So, in 2007, we took her up to bowling. And we’re still there.” Miller said watching her daughter compete is special. “Oh my gosh, very emotional at times. It’s fantastic. Just to see them compete.”
Miller noted that players on opposing teams even cheer each other on. “They’re competitive, but yet they are so happy to see the others do as well as they can do,” she said.
Daughter Heather loves the added role she plays in the group as athlete representative. “I’m the voice for all the athletes,” Heather said. “So whatever problems they’ve got, they can come to me and see if I can figure it out.”
The role also sees Heather going out into the community giving speeches, talking to students, talking to the Town, and so on. “Just doing whatever I can to get knowledge out on what Special Olympics is,” she said.
As an athlete, Heather competes in rhythmic gymnastics, bowling, and bocce, a game she describes as a combination of bowling and curling. Bocce is her favourite. “I love the game, I like playing with the team,” she said. She also loves the social element of the Special Olympics, including the social events, such as dances, and forging friendships with other athletes.
Newton is still bowled over at how supportive the athletes are towards one another, something she discovered when her daughter Theresa first competed in rhythmic gymnastics.
“I have never seen that sort of thing happen before,” said Newton. “It was one of our proudest moments as parents for sure, because she won. She competed. I’d never even seen that part of her before where she wanted to compete, and she really wanted to do something. It was so exciting for her. I don’t think people realize just how much it changes a child.”
Miller agreed, saying she saw her daughter Heather benefit similarly. “It has done a 100 per cent turnaround for her,” said Miller. “The benefits are unbelievable. She turned her life around.”
Baker said the benefits are across the board. “You know, just for their self-esteem, for example,” she added. “It offers inclusion. It offers socialization, like Heather said. Independence, life skills, sportsmanship. Physically they benefit because of the activities, obviously. And building the friendships – it’s the same thing that Heather said. It’s amazing what you see.”
Baker said over her 20 years with the program, she has seen it bring many athletes out of their shells with many of the Brightstars athletes gaining the confidence to work in the community, at retail stores, seniors’ homes, and so on.
“Just like everybody else, they’re a very valued employee with the group,” said Baker.
“We are very fortunate in CBS,” Baker added. “We do get a lot of support from some of the service groups. We get donations, and sometimes they’ve asked Heather to come and speak. We also have some of them that give us use of their buildings for events free of charge.”
The group also enjoys the use of facilities at the town’s various schools.
Athlete representative Heather Miller said it would be nice if there was somewhere in the community that members of the CBS Brightstars could go during the day, particularly somewhere accessible for those without transportation.
When it comes to funding, the Brightstars have to fundraise to pay for gear, travel, coaching, and social events.
“There’s no funding for Special Olympics clubs, as such,” said Baker. “Sometimes the head office, Special Olympics NL, may get a grant from the government. If there’s a special type grant, the 14 clubs across the province may get a portion of that.”
The group usually gets financial support from the Law Enforcement Torch Run, a pledged event in which members of Canadian law enforcement show support and raise money for the Special Olympics.
The athletes also collect recyclables. Currently the Brightstars are holding a ticket drive for a backyard barbecue set. Tickets are being sold in local stores and businesses.
Anyone interested in donating to the CBS Brightstars can reach out to the club. Typically, donations go through the Special Olympics’ provincial office first. “So, we could accept the donation whether it be a cheque or something like that, and then it goes to our provincial office who could submit a tax receipt and things like that,” said Baker. Anyone wanting to donate, know more about the ticket drive, or seek any other information can contact Newton via email at edienewton@hotmail.com or by phone at (709) 687-9474.
Upcoming Special Olympics events include a regional bowling competition in St. John’s on June 7, and the provincial games which will be held in Gander from July 3 to July 7.