Latest news with #SpecialOlympics
Global News
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Global News
Special Olympics athlete prepares to lift thousands of pounds in fundraiser
Kassidy Rutledge has been training for years. Now, the four-foot- six-inch tall athlete can lift 210 pounds. 'It makes me strong, powerful and being a really strong woman,' said Rutledge. Rutledge dedicates three days a week to training. It's earned her a spot in the Special Olympics, as well with the BC Powerlifting Association. 'In October she is going to the championships for the Canadian Powerlifting Association, and then from there we fly to Romania for the World Championships,' said Leo Rutledge, Special Olympics Kelowna local coordinator. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Honouring her roots as a Special Olympian, the heavyweight is challenging herself to raise funds for the not-for-profit in a Dollar Per Pound Showdown. She will go up against two other powerlifters to complete as many reps of 200 pounds as it takes to match every dollar donated with a pound lift. Story continues below advertisement 'Just lifting heavy and getting out in the world and showing how strong I am,' said Rutledge. It's their way of giving back and doing their part to help keep sports free for special Olympians in Kelowna. Leo Rutledge says Kelowna is the only city in Canada that provides free programs for its athletes. 'It does cost a lot of money to run the 17 local programs that we run, so we try to do a number of fundraisers through the year and the ones like this that are athlete-based are fantastic,' said Leo Rutledge. Now all there is to do is keep training, so she can keep up and lift the thousands of pounds to match every dollar donated on Aug. 9. The fundraiser will be held at The Women's Place Fitness in Kelowna and some of the funds raised will also go to The Women's Place Fitness Powerlifting Club.
CTV News
15 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Special Olympic Provincial Summer Games set to begin to N.S.
Over 9,000 athletes, coaches and volunteers will gather in Antigonish for the Nova Scotia Provincial Summer Special Olympics. Antigonish and St. Francis Xavier University will be hosting the 2025 Special Olympics N.S. Provincial Summer Games from July 24 to 27. 'I think it just makes me feel even more confident because I'm like, okay, I can do that. I can do anything,' said Ashely Thomas, a soccer player out of the Sackville-Bedford region. Thomas was a member of Team Canada who competed in Germany at the 2023 World Summer Games. She has been playing soccer with the Special Olympics Nova Scotia (SONS) team since 2012, saying she's grown both on and off the pitch. 'Well, I'm faster. I'm stronger. I'm more confident and knowing when new people come into the team, it's just making them feel confident and welcoming.' This is something her coach, Geoff Tyler, agreed with. 'Because it's all about teamwork. And that's not just in sport, that's in life is that we have to have teamwork,' he told CTV News. 'But seeing that progress from the early stages to now, and I've always had ideas of how to teach the game, how I would like to see it played and just to put those skills forward to them and then to see them actually do it and make plays that you've taught them it's a really, really good feeling.' Tyler joined SONS over 10 years ago because of his son Xavier. 'My wife got him involved with Special Olympics, and so I went along one evening to have a look, and it looked like I was interested,' laughed Tyler. 'So they called me down to join in, and the coaching started from there.' For both athletes and coaches, SONS is more than just what happens on the field. 'It's not just about, the sport itself, but the group that you're with. It's about how it affects you in everyday life,' explained Tyler. 'It gave me a lot of confidence and other things in other aspects of my life. I have better skills to be able to cope with different things and then throw that in with the sport that I love and then teaching that people are willing to learn.' 'Because it's fun. It's like another family,' said Thomas. 'You can't really know unless you're there. Like when you're there, it clicks like 'oh, that's what Ashley was talking about.'' In his 10 years, Tyler is impressed by the growth of Special Olympics in the province. 'More and more people are getting more aware of it and when you're involved, you talk about it, because it's trying to get people outside of their own bubbles to realize it is a thing,' he said. 'It is there, and it's fun and it's a good thing to be involved with. So, you know, we always coach people to be involved in some way, whether it's volunteering or coaching or just come along to support your region because they're all proud of playing for their hometown.' This weekend will see four days of competition in basketball, bocce, golf, swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, track and field, and soccer. These games serve as qualifiers for the 2026 National Summer Games, which will be held in Medicine Hat, Alta., in August 2026. The weekend will see over 850 athletes, coaches and volunteers. 'You can expect to see lots of really, really happy people,' smiled Tyler. 'They're all having fun. There's lots of different sports going on, so whatever your sport is, just go choose that, have a look, see what's going on, and you'll just see people having fun, having a good time, and competing and competing strong as well.' With growing awareness top of mind. 'My group itself is 25 athletes, and it is pretty big. We only really get six weeks off in the year. Other sports don't do that,' Tyler said of the growth of soccer in the region. 'We're really lucky that we train most of the year, and plus our region itself is big, like the second biggest region has grown as more and more people become aware of it.' Of course, the goal is winning, too. 'We're taking home gold!' shouted Thomas. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
National Post
21 hours ago
- Business
- National Post
General Aviation Community Unites to Support the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift
Article content OSHKOSH, Wis. — During the industry's iconic Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, leading general aviation organizations — including EAA and General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) — announced their collective support and endorsement of the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift event. Article content The Special Olympics Airlift, organized by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, mobilizes hundreds of volunteer Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker pilots and aircraft to create the world's largest peacetime airlift and provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Special Olympics athletes. This monumental event will transport hundreds of athletes and coaches across the country to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota's Twin Cities. Article content 'The support of EAA, GAMA and our customers across the general aviation community is a powerful testament to the spirit of aviation and its ability to change lives,' said Ron Draper, president and CEO, Textron Aviation. 'Together, we are creating unforgettable experiences for these athletes and demonstrating the true heart of our industry.' Article content The industry is calling on Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft owners and operators to come together on Friday, June 19, 2026, and Saturday, June 27, 2026, to enable champions from all corners of the nation to travel to and from the host city, regardless of financial or logistical challenges. Owners and operators of Cessna Citation, Beechcraft King Air and Hawker aircraft can participate by volunteering their aircraft, crew, fuel and time. Article content 'The Special Olympics Airlift is one of the most inspiring demonstrations of what aviation can do to uplift lives and unite communities,' said Jack J. Pelton, chairman and CEO, Experimental Aircraft Association. 'EAA is proud to support this extraordinary mission, and we deeply appreciate the dedication of the pilots and volunteers who make it possible. It's a shining example of aviation's heart.' Article content Since the inception of the Special Olympics Airlift in 1987, Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker owners have transported more than 10,000 athletes and coaches to various Special Olympics World and USA Games. During the 2026 event, participating aircraft known as Doves are expected to touch down or takeoff from St. Paul Downtown Airport Holman Field (KSTP) every three minutes throughout a 10-hour period. Article content 'The Special Olympics Airlift is an excellent example of how the general aviation community bands together to support special missions and give back. This noble effort provides Special Olympics athletes and coaches with the transportation necessary to create lasting memories of the games and inspiring achievements by the competitors,' said James Viola, president and CEO, GAMA. Article content Everybody needs a lift every now and then. Become a Dove for this monumental nationwide aviation event by visiting Article content About Textron Aviation Article content We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 95 years, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable and flexible flight. For more information, visit Article content . Article content About Textron Inc. Article content Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contact: Article content
Business Wire
21 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
General Aviation Community Unites to Support the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift
OSHKOSH, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--During the industry's iconic Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, leading general aviation organizations — including EAA and General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) — announced their collective support and endorsement of the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift event. The Special Olympics Airlift, organized by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, mobilizes hundreds of volunteer Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker pilots and aircraft to create the world's largest peacetime airlift and provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Special Olympics athletes. This monumental event will transport hundreds of athletes and coaches across the country to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota's Twin Cities. 'The support of EAA, GAMA and our customers across the general aviation community is a powerful testament to the spirit of aviation and its ability to change lives,' said Ron Draper, president and CEO, Textron Aviation. 'Together, we are creating unforgettable experiences for these athletes and demonstrating the true heart of our industry.' The industry is calling on Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft owners and operators to come together on Friday, June 19, 2026, and Saturday, June 27, 2026, to enable champions from all corners of the nation to travel to and from the host city, regardless of financial or logistical challenges. Owners and operators of Cessna Citation, Beechcraft King Air and Hawker aircraft can participate by volunteering their aircraft, crew, fuel and time. 'The Special Olympics Airlift is one of the most inspiring demonstrations of what aviation can do to uplift lives and unite communities,' said Jack J. Pelton, chairman and CEO, Experimental Aircraft Association. 'EAA is proud to support this extraordinary mission, and we deeply appreciate the dedication of the pilots and volunteers who make it possible. It's a shining example of aviation's heart.' Since the inception of the Special Olympics Airlift in 1987, Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker owners have transported more than 10,000 athletes and coaches to various Special Olympics World and USA Games. During the 2026 event, participating aircraft known as Doves are expected to touch down or takeoff from St. Paul Downtown Airport Holman Field (KSTP) every three minutes throughout a 10-hour period. 'The Special Olympics Airlift is an excellent example of how the general aviation community bands together to support special missions and give back. This noble effort provides Special Olympics athletes and coaches with the transportation necessary to create lasting memories of the games and inspiring achievements by the competitors,' said James Viola, president and CEO, GAMA. Everybody needs a lift every now and then. Become a Dove for this monumental nationwide aviation event by visiting About Textron Aviation We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 95 years, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable and flexible flight. For more information, visit | | About Textron Inc. Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit:
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Revolution veteran Andrew Farrell in the spotlight for his community outreach work
Farrell is the first athlete to be featured in the 'Celebrating Impact' series, a collaboration from Audi, Major League Soccer, and The Players' Tribune that launched July 1. Farrell is happy to represent the Revolution. 'I didn't grow up here but being here so long, it's kind of my second home,' he said. Advertisement Farrell's adoptive parents Hunter and Ruth have been the inspiration for his dedication to helping others, lessons he learned growing up in Louisville, Ky., and South America. Hunter served the Presbyterian Church as its World Mission director from 2007 and 2016. Their work included moving to Peru, Farrell's upbringing translated to the field. Revolution coach Caleb Porter described Farrell as one of the best players Porter has ever coached. 'He's a legend, obviously, on the pitch. But off the pitch he's always had a legacy that's huge as well,' Porter said. 'In a year where he's not playing a lot, he's still as positive as ever.' Advertisement Farrell, who has the most starts in franchise history, is with the Revolution in a player/coach role, a contract he signed after the 2024 season. He works as an assistant with the Revolution Academy. He has appeared in the Revolution's two US Open matches this season. Off the field, Porter volunteers with the Animal Rescue League of Boston, participates in hospital visits, lead's the club's anti-racist organization C.H.A.N.G.E., and assists in the Special Olympics. For Farrell, his empathy is the biggest motivator in staying present in civic engagement. 'We're all going through something, and to just be able to be there for each other and help can be amazing,' he said. He explains it as 'meeting people and coming where they are.' Part of his outreach work — the work featured in his Players' Tribune story — is with the Jessie Rees Foundation, which supports children fighting cancer. At several Revolution home games, Farrell helped host local youth and their families for a memorable matchday experience. Moving forward, Farrell plans to continue being a public servant, well after he retires from the pitch. His vision for the Revolution is find more ways to get involved with youth in Boston and youth soccer programs across New England. 'Even if I'm not part of the team anymore,' he said, 'its something I want to keep in reach.' Auzzy Byrdsell can be reached at
