By Mat Barrett

‘I feel like I’ve done something’: Melfort couple presented with national award

Jan 17, 2019 | 8:55 AM

A Melfort couple with more than 54 years of volunteering with Special Olympics was honoured last night at the Melfort Curling Club.

John and Dorothy Wikstrom were officially given the Jim Thompson Award last night in recognition of their volunteer work with Special Olympics over the years. Dorothy called her time as a volunteer an amazing experience.

“I love these guys,” Dorothy told northeastNOW. “I’ve learned to work with them at the group home where I worked. They’d come to the group home and we’d have meetings with Special Olympics. I went on all the committees. I’ve done a lot of fundraising. It’s just wonderful.”

Dorothy has been volunteering with Special Olympics since 1988, and John has been helping out since at least 1994. One of their biggest accomplishments has been their work in starting the curling program in Saskatchewan in 1999. Dorothy said having her husband by her side made things a lot easier.

“It’s wonderful,” Dorothy said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without him, because you can’t take five athletes on your own. You have to have someone to help you. You could lose them in the airport.”

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Dorothy added that she feels a sense of accomplishment through her time volunteering with Special Olympics.

“I feel like I have done something in this,” Dorothy said. “I really do. I love these people, these people love me, I know that. They still do, what else could I ask. It was fun.”

John called his time volunteering very memorable.

“Working with these people is unreal,” John told northeastNOW. “They are unreal and they remember you forever and always have a smile.”

Special Olympics is always looking for volunteers, and the couple encourages anyone to volunteer.

“It’s the best thing you could do,” Dorothy said. “It is so much fun. I just wish people could have this experience. The experience of working with these people is unbelievable.”

John said “You’ll never ever regret it. Never. Never.”

An awards gala was held by Special Olympics in November, but John and Dorothy, unfortunately, could not attend.

mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6