Jennifer Boyd received some unannounced and unexpected news during a recent trip to the bowling alley.
The local 24-year-old has been named the Special Olympics Airdrie athlete of the month for March.
She found out about the award during the group’s weekly bowling sessions at the Shamrock Lanes on Feb. 13.
She has been involved with Special Olympics for the past 15 years, starting in Calgary and continuing with Airdrie when the group here was created.
“I like the club here in Airdrie and softball is my favourite sport,” Boyd said.
She likes to play as catcher during the softball season, which begins in May, although the players frequently rotate positions. Boyd used to participate with swimming as well, but now only attends softball and bowling.
She said she would like to see golf and gymnastics as potential additions to the lineup of sports offered by Special Olympics Airdrie, if coaches could be found to volunteer and venues became available.
Athletes involved with Special Olympics Airdrie will be participating at a number of upcoming bowling tournaments, including one at the Shamrock Lanes on April 1. Boyd said she is looking forward to seeing some of her friends from Olds and Drumheller, as the social aspect of Special Olympics is just as important to her as the sporting side.
“It’s the highlight of her week,” said Boyd’s mother Diane, adding her daughter began with gymnastics, softball and youth bowling in Calgary, before moving out to Airdrie 12 years ago.
“Jen loves all sports. She would go into everything if time allowed. It’s nice that we now have softball, as they use to go from April to September without seeing anybody. It’s been really good.”
