Motionball's Mission for a More Inclusive World
Written by Rory McGarvey
Thumbnail & Banner Photo by motionball
Motionball is a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise awareness and money for the Special Olympics in Canada. Through events like the Marathon of Sport or the Motionball Gala, the organization allows students and Canadians to help an often overlooked group. Initially created in 2002, the organization has generated over $17,000,000 in donations to support the Special Olympics. While this figure is undeniably impressive, the benefits of the Marathon for Sport far extend simple monetary gain, helping to promote significant social engagement and foster inclusive connections within communities.
SMU Marathon for Sport
The Marathon for Sport is an engaging event put together by Motionball with the multipurpose goal of bringing communities together, generating money, raising awareness, and helping foster leadership and teamwork in young individuals. The initiative involves teams of volunteers and fundraisers getting together to compete against each other in a range of sports, with a Special Olympian on each team. These events help raise awareness for Special Olympians and their struggles, allowing participants to interact firsthand with them and create lifelong friendships and connections.
The public events occur across Canada in 17 major cities, including Halifax. Yet, the marathon for sport extends far greater than just in cities: events occur across more than 34 university campuses!
Photo from SMU Huskies (2023 SMU Marathon for Sport)
We are lucky to be hosting one of these events right here at Saint Mary’s University on March 21st, 2024. After a successful event last year, raising over $23,000 for the Special Olympics, the Huskies hope to surpass that goal this year. They have already made significant progress towards topping last year's impressive achievement. The event involves various SMU varsity athlete teams working hard to raise money for the cause, from Track and Field and Cross-Country to Football and Hockey and everything in between, all working together to make a difference. The camaraderie and competitive spirit found in these Husky athletes not only encourages each team to try and raise the most money, but also showcases the community's ability to band together and support an extremely important cause.
Every dollar raised is put towards supporting the Special Olympics in different ways. For example, $300 is enough to certify a volunteer Special Olympics coach, and $600 is enough to send a Special Olympics athlete to compete at a provincial game. The money raised is essential in building the foundation and funding necessary to ensure the success of Special Olympics programs in Canada.
#NoGoodWay
Another critical aspect of the Motionball movement is the #NoGoodWay campaign. No Good Way is an anti-bullying campaign aimed at bringing an end to the use of the R-word in our language. The pain and harm that the word can cause is significant, and while the people who use it today often don’t mean to hurt anyone, in reality, its use still causes tremendous pain for Special Olympians and many others.
The video below from #NoGoodWay shows how much of an impact using the R-word can have on people, and I encourage everyone to watch it. I've also included a link to the #NoGoodWay Pledge here and urge every reader to sign it. It's a simple way to hold yourself accountable and help commit yourself to educating others on the pain one word can cause others. Next time you hear a friend or classmate use the R-word, I implore you to think back to this video and explain to them why doing so is unacceptable.
Movements like this, combined with the team building and fundraising associated with the Motionball Foundation, make it an excellent cause for the SMU community.
Together, Making a Difference
In summary, the Motionball organization is an extremely valuable resource across communities in Canada. The money that events like the SMU Marathon of Sport will raise is essential in ensuring that the Special Olympics receive the recognition and funding they deserve. Likewise, allowing athletes to compete with Special Olympians helps foster deep friendships and connections in our country, which is an invaluable asset. Furthermore, the #NoGoodWay campaign represents an essential call for social change, helping to end bullying and a hurtful word for good.
With all that being said, I'd like to mention that I am the Team Captain for the SMU Cross-Country Motionball team. We are working hard to reach our fundraising goal and have made tremendous progress so far.
If you have any spare time or resources to donate to this tremendous cause, your support can make a big difference; you can reach our page by clicking here! Every little bit helps!