From the Sidelines to Center Stage: Alla’s Story

Today is International Women’s Day!

2X MATCH: Support Special Olympics athletes

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Happy International Women’s Day!

Growing up in Uzbekistan’s busy capital city, Alla never envisioned herself on the world stage. But she was always fascinated by the judo training club down the street from her house, even though membership was limited to boys only. 

That didn’t stop her from training. Determined to do what she loved, Alla would sneak into the back of the club and observe the boys as they trained. She’d mimic their movements and, over time, her judo skills grew and grew until she was ready to break through! 

Stories like Alla’s are why Special Olympics celebrates the courage of our athletes on International Women’s Day. Too many women and girls with intellectual disabilities (ID), like Alla, still miss out on playing the sports they love and achieving their potential because they don’t see themselves reflected in the game. 

Help us change that today. Donate before midnight tonight and our friends at The Aerie Real Foundation will 2X MATCH your gift to help more people with ID, including fierce women athletes like Alla, get off the sidelines and go for the GOLD!

Today your gift will be DOUBLED to help more athletes defy expectations on and off the field.

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Alla’s secret training sessions helped her develop some serious judo skills – and they weren’t going unnoticed. One day, the boy’s judo coach caught her as she was practicing her moves. But instead of asking her to leave, he invited her in.

Alla no longer had to train in secret. This set her on a blazing path that led her ALL THE WAY to the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin in 2023! A true trailblazer, Alla proudly represented her country – and every athlete with ID – on the judo mat.

When given the right support, there’s NO limit to what people with ID can achieve as athletes, teammates, and leaders. With over one million coaches and volunteers in over 200 accredited Programs, Special Olympics provides that one-of-a-kind support every single day, in your community and around the world, to everyone who wants to get in the game!

Today – and today ONLY – you can help us reach even more athletes with ID with DOUBLE the impact to honor International Women’s Day. Donate before the midnight deadline to see your generosity go twice as far >>

2X MATCH: GIVE NOW >> [link removed]

Thanks for empowering athletes with us,

Monica Muten 
Vice President, Direct Response Marketing
Special Olympics
2600 Virginia Avenue NW
11th Floor
Washington, DC 20037
United States
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