The Surroundup
SURROUND FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE NEXT LEVEL SPONSORSHIP FOR CF|24
- by Andrew Hawryluk
- September 27, 2022
On October 1st, members of your team at Surround are participating in a one- day fitness fundraiser called CF|24. We will be completing one “hero” style workout and all funds raised will be donated to Special Olympics Canada Foundation. Any pledges made to our fundraising page are greatly appreciated and will go a long way in supporting Special Olympics programs in Canada.
Special Olympics was founded upon one simple notion: sport has the incredible capacity to transform lives, change attitudes, and make communities stronger by supporting Canadians with an intellectual disability. By bringing people together, Special Olympics teaches us to recognize our similarities rather than focusing on our differences.
Many of you also know Gillian’s late Uncle Richard Keil was a Special Olympics athlete in swimming some years ago. He is part of the reason Gillian remains an advocate for training as a daily habit, and competition as a healthy part of life. CrossFit is a centrepiece of her day and her family culture because quite simply it is a community of people on a journey to their best self who give the best the have to offer every day.
Surround is honoured to have created The Next Level Sponsorship for CF|24 this year as well. Together with CI Assante Wealth Management, The Surround Foundation will be sponsoring select Special Olympics and Intellectual Adaptive athletes from across Canada for the 2023 training year to support their growth in their individual chosen sports, to help them take their game to the next level. Surround is thrilled about this opportunity and we can’t wait to share the stories of these amazing athletes with you over the course of 2023.
The pictures chosen to share this exciting story with you is of Gillian and a wonderful young woman named Julia Lane, who not only represents Canada next month at the 10th Annual Down’s Syndrome World Swimming Championships, but she also placed 3rd in the Intellectual Adaptive Women’s division for the CrossFit Games this past August in Madison, Wisconsin, where Gillian travelled and got a chance to meet and spend time with Julia.
There is no greater feeling than helping someone rise to their potential, and no more beautiful smile seen than when they do.
Please support our CF|24 event if you can – thank you!