Tana Manchester says it is a humbling honour.
The Neighborhood Coordinator for Particular Olympics Sarnia was not too long ago awarded the celebrated King Charles III Coronation Medal for her distinctive work with the group.
The medal is a uncommon and distinguished recognition for folks who show exceptional dedication, perseverance, and selflessness of their service to their communities.
Manchester stated she’s proud to have the ability to encourage others and to create a optimistic and welcoming setting for people with mental disabilities.
“They shocked me at our basketball match that we held right here in Sarnia in January,” stated Manchester. “Grant (Takacs), from Particular Olympics Ontario, got here down and took me abruptly after I did the entire welcome bulletins and introduced me with the award. It isn’t one thing I used to be anticipating, but it surely was very good for positive.”
Manchester stated she does what she does for the athletes, not the popularity.
“It’s good to be acknowledged, and for our complete group to be acknowledged as effectively,” she stated. “It isn’t simply me. I’ve at all times had a imaginative and prescient as to what I wish to see occur with Particular Olympics within the space. I am simply fortunate that I’ve so many different volunteers and fogeys and group members that share the identical imaginative and prescient. With out the volunteers, we would not have been capable of develop and broaden as a lot as now we have, and supply these alternatives for people with mental disabilities. It is a very significant award for positive.”
The distinguished King Charles III Coronation Medal (Picture courtesy of Julie Fisher)
Manchester stated her daughter, Emma, is likely one of the dozens of athletes concerned with Particular Olympics Sarnia, and he or she particularly loves basketball.
Emma lives with DDX3X syndrome, which is a genetic dysfunction that causes mental disabilities.
“She had a tough time with mainstream sports activities, so having the ability to begin Particular Olympics Sarnia and supply these alternatives for her has made such an enormous distinction in her life, simply having the ability to take part in sports activities. Her neurotypical sister had many choices, and now Emma does too. She has shaped so many friendships and gained so many abilities due to Particular Olympics Sarnia. It is actually made an enormous distinction in her life.”
Particular Olympics Sarnia was shaped in 2017 when Manchester, alongside her cousin, Paige Robinson, in addition to fellow dad or mum and Particular Olympics athlete’s mom, Anne Lannan, launched the initiative within the space.
The group started with only a handful of athletes, and two coaches, with the intention of operating two packages.
Now, they provide a few dozen packages to 150 athletes with the help of over 100 devoted volunteers.
