Health Messengers

Special Olympics athletes serving as health and wellness leaders, educators, advocates, and role models

Special Olympics Health Messenger training is designed to help athletes learn to serve as health and wellness leaders, educators, advocates, and role models within Special Olympics programs and communities. Health Messengers empower fellow athletes and advocate for the health needs of people with intellectual disabilities. After completing their Special Olympics training course, each Health Messenger is required to do one health and wellness-focused practicum in their community or virtually within one year of their training, to put their health and wellness into practice.

Special Olympics BC's trained Health Messengers are equipped to:

Understand how to live a healthy lifestyle and be a positive role model to others
Learn about healthy activities that can be done at home or virtually
Develop skills to help them lead in their community and advocate for the health of people with ID
Develop skills to lead on their teams and in their communities to help others establish healthy lifestyles
Think about how they can best use their leadership skills for action
Leave feeling empowered to lead SO athletes in health and fitness

“I want to encourage all the athletes to stay active and eat healthy so they can enjoy their best lives. I want everyone to do their best every day and in competition.”

-Health Messenger Tony Wilkinson, SOBC – Kelowna

SOBC Health Messengers in action

“Just remember you can always make time for practicing, especially right now – and always remember how good it feels to get a good workout in, that will brighten up your day!”

-Health Messenger Matthew Hender, SOBC – Quesnel

Watch the Healthy Athletes nutrition video created by Special Olympics BC Health Messengers Jesse and Zack Thibeault: