Megan and Jeremy
LOCKDOWN INSPIRES MEGAN TO FUNDRAISE FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS After her son Jeremy was left socially isolated during lockdown, Megan Bray is challenging herself by competing in the Round the Bays in Wellington and fundraise for Special Olympics who helped Jeremy reconnect with friends and the community.
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“I like to tell people that my son is an Olympic athlete” Megan says. Specifically, a Special Olympics athlete. Jeremy has been training and competing in ten-pin bowling, golf and swimming with Special Olympics New Zealand for the past 15 years. The 26-year-old was born with Down syndrome, which Megan says has led to difficulties finding activities that he can participate in. “Jeremy has quite a few health issues and doesn’t speak at all. He likes to spend a lot of time on his own, so it was hard to find activities that he enjoyed and got him to engage with others.” Finding Special Olympics when Jeremy was in intermediate school was a game-changer, and meant Jeremy was able to participate in sports just like any other student. “Some of the things I really value about Special Olympics is that he has the opportunity to engage with the community and make friends, along with the exercise” Megan explains. Training with friends at Special Olympics was part of the weekly routine for Jeremy, until the lockdown in March 2020 halted all public
