Non-profit founded by brothers 25 years ago puts on massive events to support Special Olympics in Toronto

Every year in Toronto, there’s an event where hundreds of people come together to support the Special Olympics.

It’s called Marathon of Sport, and it’s put on by motionball. The event involves teams of 10 with athletes of all abilities coming together for a day of inclusive sports to raise money for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation and increase awareness.

motionball itself was founded over 20 years ago by three brothers, and raises funds and awareness for the Special Olympics by integrating social events and sports. By now, they put on over 50 events every year in 19 Canadian cities, and over the course of their history have donated over $20 million.

What’s ballooned to a huge non-profit with major fundraising power actually started surprisingly small: over a pint at a local Toronto bar.

“My brothers, Sean and Mark, and I conceived the idea for motionball in 2002 over a pint at Bier Markt, driven by our desire to create fundraising opportunities that would appeal to young professionals, which were lacking at the time. We wanted to build a stronger connection between donors and the Special Olympics cause, and got to work developing integrated social and sports programming that brings Special Olympics athletes and supporters together,” motionball co-founder Paul Etherington tells YourCityWithIN.com.

“Marathon of Sport not only raises awareness about the Special Olympics movement across Canada but also enables people with and without intellectual disabilities to interact, establish lifelong friendships, and ultimately create more inclusive and integrated communities.”

The day-long Marathon of Sport event combines more traditional sports like soccer and basketball with fun lawn-style activities like giant pong. There’s also a station at the event promoting motionball’s #NoGoodWay anti-bullying campaign taking aim at negative slurs in language like the “R-word,” and each year one special honorary athlete is chosen.

Around 800 people organized into 56 teams are expected to take part in this year’s Marathon of Sport at York University on May 24. Still, it hasn’t been easy keeping the event alive all these years, especially during recent times when gathering in huge crowds was sadly a no-go.

“Our most significant challenge as an organization was faced during the pandemic shut downs, which restricted motionball from being able to host events in our traditional formats,” says Etherington.

“We pivoted our model and hosted a one-hour national TV program on Sportsnet, helping us raise $1 million. Since the pandemic, motionball events have been rebuilding steadily. Our supporters have returned, and we are grateful to the motionball audiences that have continued to join us at our events.”

This year’s honorary athlete at Marathon of Sport is Peter Flagler, also known as Pistol Pete.

“Pete has been involved with motionball for the last 10 years,” says Etherington. “Special Olympics has made a significant difference in his life, and he has become involved in several sports through the program, including basketball, swimming, downhill skiing, and baseball. Fun fact: Pete is an assistant to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ equipment staff.”

No matter how many years motionball keeps Marathon of Sport going or how many lives they touch, they’re always reaching for more. Every year, they try to top their previous fundraising goal in support of Special Olympics Canada, which provides programs and resources for athletes. This year, their goals is to raise over $450,000.

“Many of our supporters have attended multiple times because of what they gain from it, a well-rounded experience that combines fun, community, and meaningful impact,” says Etherington.

“As we enter our 25th year, we continue to work towards establishing motionball chapters in all major Canadian cities and on every university campus, reaching as many Canadians as possible with our integrated events. These events wouldn’t be possible without the thousands of Special Olympics athletes and dedicated volunteers who drive our mission forward. In some ways, we feel like we’re just getting started, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.”