TORONTO - St. Brigid鱿鱼视频app parish just north of Danforth Avenue in Toronto鱿鱼视频app east end doesn鈥檛 just believe in miracles. They are witnessed there weekly.
On Monday nights through the school year, St. Brigid鱿鱼视频app invites the Special Olympics into the school gym, right next door to the church. Accompanied by Grade 8 student volunteers from St. Brigid鱿鱼视频app Catholic School, an average of about a dozen Special Olympians and their parents play basketball, variations on tag and duck-duck-goose.
It鱿鱼视频app an hour-and-a-half of fun, but it鱿鱼视频app serious fun.
Intellectually disabled athletes as old as 12 and 13 have spoken their first words at Special Olympics, said coach and organizer Linda Ward.
鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app like something unlocked,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app very important for kids,鈥� said Ariel Samuel-Charles鈥� mother Marina. 鈥淎riel has Down鱿鱼视频app Syndrome and it鱿鱼视频app very important to keep her active.鈥� The free program that allows 13-year-old Ariel to play and socialize comes as a welcome relief for Marina.
鈥淢ost programs are very expensive,鈥� she said. Horseback riding, basketball and weekly swimming lessons for Ariel eat up a big chunk of the family budget, but they鈥檙e still not enough, said Marina.
Often the people who appreciate the miracles on the gym floor most are parents. 鈥淭o see their kids laugh and having fun like everybody else, it鱿鱼视频app like a vacation,鈥� said Ward. 鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app all they want for their kids.鈥�
Lina Cornacchi has seen her son Luigi learn new words at the age of 41. The program improves his balance, his co-ordination and his mood.
When asked why the parish should be involved in Special Olympics, Fr. Carlos Augustos Sierra Tobon just points to Luigi. On Sunday mornings after Mass, Luigi鱿鱼视频app first question to Tobon is about Special Olympics. Every week he wants to be sure the program is on.
鈥淟uigi has learned new words and new games,鈥� said Lina. 鈥淲hen he knows all the new people, he鱿鱼视频app very happy.鈥�
The experience isn鈥檛 just new and exciting for the Special Olympians. Student volunteer Jack Kelly found the experience eye-opening.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know what to expect. You learn patience, definitely,鈥� said Kelly. 鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app a different experience. I鈥檝e never been around kids like this before.鈥�
Without Special Olympics Geoffrey Fantaske鱿鱼视频app life has a tendency to become much more narrow.
鈥淗e鱿鱼视频app all too happy to get on his little iPad 15 hours a day,鈥� said Ward.
Ward is really looking forward to this fall, when the St. Brigid鱿鱼视频app Special Olympics program will go into its second year. Now she has a core of Special Olympians who have experienced the basics and may be ready to move on to more complex and competitive activities.
鈥淚t will be immediate, that trust factor,鈥� she said.
Eventually the St. Brigid鱿鱼视频app Special Olympians will have the opportunity to compete at regional, national and international Special Olympics.