Young professionals across the Okanagan will come together this September to raise money for an important cause乌鸦传媒擲pecial Olympics乌鸦传媒攖hrough a fun day of social sports.

For those who participate, however, the event has a much greater purpose in our community.

For Darrell Manderson, a passionate, inspired team member and consistent supporter of Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 motionball Marathon of Sport, motionball is a lot more than a sporting event. It is an opportunity to make the athletes feel special and a day where team members become connected with the impact of giving.

乌鸦传媒淔irst and foremost it is for the athletes,乌鸦传媒� says Manderson. 乌鸦传媒渕otionball raises awareness for an organization that better乌鸦传媒檚 the lives of those with intellectual disabilities. And we all get to experience, firsthand, the impact it is having on athlete乌鸦传媒檚 lives.乌鸦传媒�

motionball Marathon of Sport is an event where participants play a series of fun, non-competitive social sports alongside Special Olympic athletes, while raising money to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Special Olympics movement.

One of the goals of motionball is to connect young professionals with the impact of giving to inspire the next generation to give back to community.

Manderson has a personal connection with the health industry and knows the importance of living healthy and active both mentally and physically.

乌鸦传媒淚 am a nurse and know that it is great to give back and foster that wellness in somebody,乌鸦传媒� Manderson said. 乌鸦传媒淚 get to see the other side when someone isn乌鸦传媒檛 well, and I like motionball because it is seeing people when they are active, they乌鸦传媒檙e healthy, they乌鸦传媒檙e happy, they乌鸦传媒檙e engaged and they乌鸦传媒檙e participating in community.乌鸦传媒�

To top it all off, the event and the people it attracts are fun.

乌鸦传媒淭his event attracts people who have good energy who are looking to make a positive impact and who have spirit towards the mission, which is to raise awareness and to and celebrate the athletes,乌鸦传媒� he exclaimed. 乌鸦传媒淲e are in it for the fun. That is why our team name is the Fire Breathing Unicorns,乌鸦传媒� he said with a laugh.

Manderson emphasized that the event is not a day of competitive sports; it is all about the athletes and having a good time.

乌鸦传媒淲e really just want to enjoy the day and make sure our athlete is getting what they expected out of it,乌鸦传媒� he explained. 乌鸦传媒淲e want to have that inclusive feeling and make sure they are engaged. We don乌鸦传媒檛 want the athletes to feel shut out or left out so we make sure it isn乌鸦传媒檛 competitive.乌鸦传媒�

motionball Marathon of Sport Kelowna on Sept. 23 engages local young professionals in a day of non-competitive sports alongside Special Olympic Athletes. It is a fundraising event raising money for Special Olympics British Columbia and Special Olympics Canada Foundation.

Learn more and register at