Hazen Meade received a call this afternoon that made his dream a reality– he has been selected to represent Canada at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Seoul Korea in January 2013.
When he first received the call he told Team Manager Lesley Thornley, “He thought it was a good idea but had to think about it” –because it would mean that he had to travel to a foreign country
Within minutes he realized that this is the call he had been waiting for. Meade has wanted to attend a world games ever since his teammate Paul Aubuchon made Team Canada back in 2003 and represented Canada in Dublin Ireland.
Meade described Aubuchon as a “world class athlete” and he said that someday he would like to be a world class athlete like Aubuchon. Well that someday has arrived.
Meade participates in swimming, 5 pin bowling, floor hockey, softball, track and field and snowshoeing. Meade will be the fourth athlete from Campbell River that will represent Canada at a world games in Special Olympics B.C./Campbell River’s 29 years of operating. Walter Dion, Dave Devison, and Aubuchon attended previous years.
When asked what is the secret of the Campbell River athletes’ success, local coordinator Maureen Brinson said, “It is not just the great athletes that Campbell River has to offer, it is also the support of the community. When you have fundraisers like The Howie Meeker Charity Golf Classic you are able to offer the quality of Programs that Athletes like Hazen participate in every week. We have an outstanding team of Coaches and volunteers that make our weekly programs happen, We truly are a fortunate Community.”