Free Our Finest raising funds for Special Olympians

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

Red Deer RCMP Dispatcher Tracy Duval says money raised at the event stays locally.

todd becker retiring

Innisfail to begin search for new CAO

8h ago

last seen april 17

Missing: Amy Roan, 33, of Ermineskin

9h ago

First surplus since 2015

City of Red Deer reports improved finances in annual report

11h ago

“A lot of people ask us about Special Olympics and what it really goes to,” says Duval. “People don’t realize that our athletic programs run every day, multiple events and support over 3,000 athletes across Alberta, it’s not just a single event. In this area alone, it’s over 600 that we support.”

She says Free Our Finest is a very significant fundraiser for Special Olympics Alberta.

“This event is our fundraiser of the year that actually does the most for this area,” explains Duval. “Without it, we would have a lot of trouble supporting the amount of sports that we do here because every coach and volunteer and travel and everything from uniforms to the spaces that we use for the athletics is all very important for us to do and we do get a lot of support but without this event, we would really struggle to do a lot of the programs that we have.”

She says last year alone, Special Olympics Alberta was able to raise over $600,000 through all of their events across the province.

“Last year was a little bit smaller, it was $17,000 that we raised locally,” adds Duval. “We know that the economy being the way it is, it’s really tough for people to open up their wallets and give but every year, it’s a dollar we didn’t have the day before. The goal this year is $20,000.”

Duval says Free Our Finest will also see 20-25 Special Olympic volunteers come out over the course of the weekend to help make the event a success.

“With our law enforcement partners, we’ll usually see 10-15 throughout the weekend,” adds Duval. “As well, we have six very dedicated committee members that plan and run and are here literally for all three days and then others that are able to come in and out.”

Duval says they understand people have many choices when making charitable donations but encourages Red Deerians to strongly consider helping out our local Special Olympians.

“Having that positive community support, especially as law enforcement, we don’t always have that ability to interact with the community,” states Duval. “For me, having people that are super positive and supportive of law enforcement is really the great thing and the opportunity for me to put medals around their necks when they win things or to have them come out and hug me every year really makes it worth it for me.”