The COVID-19 pandemic may have changed the format for this year's Ability Bowl, but organizers kept the theme for the new event.

"Superhero Bowl" was unveiled at last year's Frontier Days parade; an exciting follow-up to top that year's record-setting event.

When COVID-19 placed those endeavours on hold, it left many non-profits treading water, looking for options on how to proceed.

For SaskAbilities, for whom the Ability Bowl is the Swift Current branch's single largest fundraiser of the year, those alternate plans were unveiled on Monday.

Keeping the same theme; the Superhero Bowl: Walk, Wheel, Run event can be done individually or with those within a "bubble" of family and friends.  Between August 27 and September 10, 2020, people across the province are invited to participate by walking, wheeling, or running any distance of their choosing – all while dressed as their favourite superheroes.

Candace Toma is the Community Relations Coordinator with SaskAbilities in Swift Current.  She believes that the superhero theme is more timely than ever in the COVID-19 reality that the world finds itself in, and that when asking people to think about who their heroes are this year, the answers may look a lot different than usual.

"When we look at heroes this year and who those might be.  We might be identifying them a little differently given the current landscape that we have these days.  So keep that in mind and there are lots and lots of goodwill across the South West.   We're so fortunate to have great support at SaskAbilities."

 She added that the new event is not timed or distance specific, and remains free to register; with the only ask being that registrants do their best to do some online pledging for SaskAbilities.

And of course, the importance of doing the event safely is of premier importance.

"Not in large groups.  And following all of the current guidelines in place by the Saskatchewan Health Authority.  So we encourage people to do it within their bubbles; so maybe you and your best friend, or you and your family or you and your colleagues from a socially acceptable distance apart."

Prizes for the Top 10 individual fundraisers will be awarded following the completion of Superhero Bowl: Walk, Wheel, Run.

Any fundraising completed for Ability Bowl, plus any funds collected up to and including September 10, 2020, for the Walk, Wheel, Run, will be added together for a cumulative fundraising total.

Individuals or teams that are interested in participating can register at www.abilitybowl.ca or by calling or texting Candace Toma at 306-750-7427.