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 |  | The Kelsey Wyse Story
Imagine growing up with an intellectual disability and trying to figure out why you'll never achieve some of the things in life that you see others achieve, or why kids tease you on the playground. Imagine being diagnosed with epilepsy and suffering as many as 16 to 18 seizures a day or coping with the additional challenges of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Imagine the emotional scars of losing your parents to a car accident when you were eight years old. Now imagine all four together. This is the story of 16-year-old Kelsey Wyse.
Life hasn't been easy for Kelsey. For years, she struggled to find her place in life and longed for acceptance and friendship. Although surgery eliminated the epileptic seizures, it seemed nothing could change the other challenges she faced. Her family felt lost. Then they found Special Olympics. Today, Kelsey is a new person. The gold and bronze medallions that line her bedroom shelf are testament to that. They signify more than an impressive track record in swimming. They represent the transformation of a young girl who once walked shyly in a crowd to one who holds her head high with attitude and self confidence. They represent commitment and hard work. They symbolize Kelsey's new sense of identity, the friendship she has found in others and the pride she has found in herself. Reaching More Kelseys Last year, more than 28,000 people who have met the unique challenges that life has presented to them enjoyed the benefits of participating in Special Olympics Canada. While it is rewarding to know that so many children and adults are healthier and happier as a direct result of Special Olympics, there are thousands more who could benefit from the program. In Canada, it is estimated that there are 700,000 people with intellectual disabilities with approximately fifty percent of these being potential Special Olympics Athletes. The need to do more and to involve these individuals is very real. Imagine the difference it would make if every one of them could experience what it is like to stand in Kelsey Wyse's shoes. Special Olympics Canada Foundation's 20/20 Endowment Campaign will help bring this ideal closer to reality by providing the opportunity for Special Olympics Athletes to compete in National Games and/or World Games each and every year. Embrace the Possibilities The question is not, "Can you help instill hope, friendship and pride in thousands of Canadians?" It is, "Will you?" The 20/20 Campaign is an opportunity to truly make a difference; not only today, but years into the future. It will create a legacy for generations of Special Olympics Athletes to come and will also secure the future of an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of thousands of children and adults with an intellectual disability and their families. Your support would help the following outcomes for athletes: To reach the ambitious goal before us, we are counting on the generous contributions of many individuals, businesses and foundations. We invite you to join us and embrace this campaign with the same enthusiasm and vigor that has become synonymous with the Special Olympics movement. Contact Us! If you would like to discuss how you can help Special Olympics Athletes reach their potential, contact: Syme Jago, Foundation Administrator Tel: (416) 927-9050 ext. 230 email: sjago@specialolympics.ca | | |
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