Lakeland Special Olympics on the receiving end of 50/50

The Lakeland Special Olympics club will be getting a little from to overcome this year’s hurdles and raise some cash.

Special Olympics Alberta is hosting a 50/50 raffle until October 26th in an effort to make up lost fundraisers due to health restrictions and the proceeds will be going to the northeast region.

“We were scheduled to participate in a Fort McMurray casino which got canceled because of COVID, so we were looking for creative ways to raise money,” said Leona Vachon, secretary for the club. “Bonnyville bingos were another prime source for us.”

The Lakeland Special Olympics club works to support intellectually disabled athletes in games like bocce ball and bowling.

Zone 7 covers Lac La Biche, the Lakeland, Lloydminster, St. Paul, Vegreville, and Wood Buffalo and locals provide coaching and training in an effort to promote healthy lifestyles and increase self-esteem.

Like many sports organizations, the club has had to divert from its usual fundraising avenues, which has typically involved working with local casinos, but its organizers were up to the challenge.

“It’s been difficult, and we’ve had to make some tough decisions, first with losing that Fort Mac casino, and then our annual bowling tournament,” said Vachon. “Typically we would have a banquet, but there was so many restrictions at the bowling alley that it was just too much to ask of our volunteers.”

The draw closes on the 26th, and the winner will be announced on October 30th, receiving half of the total amount of money raised — currently sitting at just under $3000 — while the rest will be divvied up between each of the Alberta clubs, likely going towards paying for services such as transportation for athletes to and from venues, and cost subsidies to help lower prices for anyone that might be struggling to sign up.

Although the club plans to go back to its regular means of raising money once things get back to normal, there’s a chance the raffle could return next year if it manages to attract enough interest.

Tickets are available for purchase at 3 for $10, 10 for $20, 50 for $50, 200 for $100.