Bottle drive raising funds for swimmer Amiera Black as she heads to World Down Syndrome Swimming and Artistic Championship
By: Emily Stewart
Stratford swimmer Amiera Black just earned five medals from the Special Olympics Canada National competition in swimming, and now she’s looking towards participating in the World Down Syndrome Swimming and Artistic Championship in the fall.
The 20-year-old athlete and her family are seeking support from the community to cover the cost of the trip to the world championship tournament in Portugal, hoping to raise $15,000 through fundraising such as a bottle drive and GoFundMe.
Amiera will join 12 other swimmers part of the Canadian Down Syndrome Swimming Association. The team does not have any government funding nor sponsorship, so each family has to cover the cost of accommodations and travel.
“Just for her to go on deck and swim is $1,000 Canadian, which is just crazy. Then, you add on accommodations, you add on food, travel. It's a lot,” said Jennifer Black, Amiera’s mother.
At first, Amiera wasn’t participating in the World Down Syndrome Swimming and Artistic competition in the fall for a few reasons including the cost, the uncertainty of jet fuel, the focus on Special Olympic Canada Nationals in August, and not enough time to fundraise – compared to six months of fundraising when Amiera competed in Worlds in 2022.
“When people found out that we weren't going to do it, that we’re going take that opportunity away from her, I guess, they're like 'No, absolutely not. We have to find a way. Let's do this,” Jennifer said. “It's a lot of work, so the more we can expand that village of people spreading the word. The more grateful we are, right?"
The bottle drive began on Labour Day Weekend and is still accepting donations of beer cans, liquor bottles, wine bottles, and other empties that can be returned to the Beer Store for refunds. Empties can be dropped off at either 78 Fraser Dr., Stratford or 4780 Line 42, Warburg.
"If we can take it back and get 10 or 20 cents for it, it adds up and we appreciate it and that's something that everybody can help with if they have a few cans in their garage,” Jennifer said.
Although a lot of pop cans have been dropped off for the drive, they do not generate revenue.
“We just end up recycling those,” Jennifer said.
Local restaurants including Rene’s Bistro, the Common, and the Braai House will also be donating their empties towards the fundraiser.
In addition to the bottle drive, monetary donations can either be sent via e-transfer to amierablack@icloud.com, through shopping on the FlipGive app with the code 3HNR4X, or online via GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-send-amiera-to-the-world-down-syndrome-championships. Anyone looking for more information can send an email to jennileeblack@icloud.com
The 12th annual World Down Syndrome Swimming and Artistic Championship tournament will run from Oct. 30 to Nov. 6 in Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal.
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