“A person with a disability can do almost anything (that an able-bodied person can do if) people are patient with them and treat them fairly.”
That’s the message Puslinch resident Taylor Redmond, 26, tries to pass along when he is talking about Special Olympics and MotionBall, a not-for-profit organization that strives to bring awareness to and raise funds for the Special Olympics in Canada.
Taylor has Down syndrome and this year he was named MotionBall’s honorary athlete for 2018, which means he is an ambassador for the program.
He has been part of the Special Olympics for about 17 years and MotionBall for about 10 years.
MotionBall raises $1 million per year for the provincial Special Olympics teams and Special Olympics Canada Foundation through an annual gala and the Marathon of Sport held in various locations throughout the country.
“[Marathon of Sport] tries to get young people … interested, still doing something good and also having fun playing Sports,” said Taylor’s dad Steve Redmond.
The day-long event includes basketball, soccer, flag football, ultimate Frisbee and bench ball. Each team includes at least one Special Olympian.
“[Participants] learn to interact with persons with disabilities,” Steve said.
“You’d have someone like Taylor on your team and talk to them and … even though it is competitive … they pass the ball to Taylor, give him the ball and let him take a shot.”
As the honorary athlete Taylor will be out promoting MotionBall, meeting people and giving speeches.
This year Taylor is also going to the national games for Special Olympics Canada in Antigonish, Nova Scotia from July 31 to Aug. 4. He will be competing in javelin, shot put, standing long jump and the 50m race. In order to qualify, he had to win the provincial games last summer.
“We were hoping for one medal,” Steve said
“We didn’t even care if it was a gold and he ended up with four golds. We almost fainted.”
Taylor is one of 13 local athletes heading to the east coast this summer. Nine basketball players, two bowlers and one other track and field athlete from the Guelph-Wellington Special Olympics team will be joining Taylor at the summer games. Each athlete is required to raise $1,200 to go to the national games.
Steve said the team is asking each athlete to try to raise $200 for the summer games and the team is going to try to raise the remaining $1,000 for each athlete. In total, they need to raise $15,600 to be able to send all 13 athletes.
Taylor, Steve and the Guelph-Wellington Special Olympics team have been approaching local businesses and sponsors for donations.
“We’re getting close,” Steve said. “I think we’re going to get the whole thing.”
Public speaking is not new for Taylor; he hosts a campus Sports radio show every Wednesday on CFRU 93.8 FM and hosts Taylor Vision on a YouTube channel called Boss Taylor Redmond, where he airs interviews he has done with various Sports personalities, including athletes, coaches and professionals.
This winter, Taylor’s dream came true when he interviewed hockey icon Don Cherry.
“I was kind of excited and happy about it,” Taylor said. “And we had good communication together.”
Cherry was in Guelph for the 2018 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and agreed to an interview with Taylor.
“He said I looked like a million bucks,” Taylor said. “I hadn’t heard that before, but a good compliment.”
Steve explained the Taylor Vision team is considering a section on the YouTube channel that will feature athletes or people who give back to the community in some way.
“Advice for young people from famous people or people who are in Sports who give back,” Steve said.
“So if you want to learn something about advice for life or success in life, then you could go to some of these interviews and see what they’ve said.”
To see Taylor’s interview with Don Cherry and other Sports personalities visit www.youtube.com/channel/UCeWxB3_jQ0TQPtcdadGoyjg.
To learn more about MotionBall visit motionball.com.
