Karen Mengersen, who has been a pillar of support for Special Olympics Olds and District since 1986, has devoted years to making sports accessible and enjoyable for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
Karen’s involvement with Special Olympics began when her son, Mark, was two years old. After witnessing Lanny McDonald close the Special Olympics Summer Games in Calgary, Karen and her family knew they had found a meaningful future for Mark within the organization. Upon returning home, they connected with the Special Olympics affiliate in Olds and began volunteering— a decision that would lead to years of passionate involvement.
Karen is incredibly proud that “with the help of many wonderful volunteers, our affiliate has grown from just three sports to now offering 11 different sports."
Over the years, Karen has held many positions, from parent representative to chairman, but her most cherished role has been running the bowling program, where she’s seen firsthand the joy sports can bring to athletes.
For Karen, Special Olympics has provided an opportunity to continue her love for teaching, even though her career as an educator began in 1968. Starting with grades 1 and 2 in Nebraska and later Oregon, her work with Special Olympics has allowed her to serve her community in a way that is both meaningful and fulfilling.
"Special Olympics has allowed me to continue working with individuals who have different needs, giving them the chance to participate in sports they enjoy with people who accept them for who they are," she explains. "It has also brought me so many wonderful friends who have become great volunteers. Most importantly, Special Olympics has given me the opportunity to serve God by serving and caring for others."
Being part of Special Olympics has also deepened Karen’s understanding of inclusion and the importance of acceptance. "When Mark was born, our family entered a whole new part of society, one that held so many unknowns. Special Olympics taught us all the importance of acceptance, not just for who we are as individuals, but also for the potential each of us has," she says. "We cannot ‘do it alone,’ but within a community, each and every person can experience success."
Though humbled by receiving the King Charles Coronation Medal, Karen remains modest, emphasizing that the success of Special Olympics Olds and District is due to the collective effort of many volunteers. "I don’t feel that my volunteering is anything extraordinary," she says. "This award is a great honor, but it wouldn’t mean much without the many wonderful volunteers who help every week with our 11 sports throughout the year."
Karen's tireless commitment to supporting athletes and growing Special Olympics in her community stands as a testament to the power of volunteerism, inclusion, and the life-changing impact of sports.
By: Naomi Eykelbosh