My journey with Special Olympics began twelve years ago with a simple twist of fate. When my daughter’s basketball coach couldn't make a Saturday practice, the other parents turned to me—assuming my height and "athletic build" meant I knew my way around a court. They weren't wrong.
That single practice turned into a decade-long passion. Since taking the helm of that basketball team, I’ve helped launch and coach our local softball, flag football, and floor hockey programs, as well as organizing our annual SO Fun Run 5K.
In 2013, I took things a step further by founding the Fergus Falls Frozen Assets for my first Polar Plunge. To keep the momentum going, I developed a unique fundraising tradition: anyone who donated $100 or more got a Viking Cafe omelet delivered to their door by yours truly—dressed in a full chicken costume. We livestreamed the deliveries to share the laughs and the mission.
This "incentive" helped me lead the Alexandria Plunge in fundraising for several years, raising over $6,000 annually. Since in 2025 I’ve been honored to serve as the Otter Tail Lake official Emcee.