Our Taste of Summer Charity Barbecue on Wednesday will help three Special Olympic athletes attend the national summer games in Nova Scotia this year.

We were able to raise $1,529 for Eastman Special Olympics thanks to amazing community support at the Taste of Summer Charity Barbecue.

Spokesperson Agnes Thiessen says this money will directly help three local athletes.

"This is all directed toward three athletes that are going to the national summer games. Ryan just came back from Prince Edward Island, he participated in five-pin bowling, he got a medal. Caleb and Michelle are going to Antigonish Nova Scotia, Caleb will be in track and Michelle will be in swimming, they are leaving Sunday."

Thiessen says here in the Southeast, Eastman Special Olympics runs a number of sports programs for anyone with intellectual disabilities. She notes they have programs for track and field, swimming, five-pin bowling, golf, and curling. She says these programs are very beneficial to their athletes.

"It builds so much self-esteem for these athletes and it builds fellowship but not only that, just the exercise they get and just how life changes for the better when they are in a program with other people. They just have so much fun and we just see so much growth in their physicality and their mentality."

Thiessen thanks everyone who came to the Taste of Summer Charity Barbecue on Wednesday to show their support.

Taste of Summer Charity Barbeque