Under brilliant blue and sunny skies in Toronto and Vancouver, one of motionball’s marquee events, Marathon of Sports, rolled out over two separate weekends in late May, raising more than $119,000 for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation. Now in it sixth year in Toronto, the full-day sporting competition celebrated a sophomore run in Vancouver and welcomed Sun Life Financial as title sponsor for the first time.
Young professionals teamed up with Special Olympics athletes and volunteers for a high-energy day of sport competitions that included bocce, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, soccer, flag football, floor hockey and basketball. In Toronto, the action unfolded at Havergal College while in Vancouver, EA Sports Complex was the official venue.
Like other motionball events, Marathon of Sports brings together the next generation of Special Olympics donors, volunteers and sponsors in Canada through integrated events. The brainchild of the Etherington brothers – Mark, Paul and Sean – motionball has raised more than $1.1 million since it launched its first gala event six years ago.
Other motionball events on the calendar this year: the Fall Classic Golf Tournament at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario, home of the 2008 and 2009 Canadian Open and the annual Football Frenzy Flag Football Tournament, hosted by CFL’s Toronto Argonauts at the Rogers Centre.
