It isn't every day that customers shopping at Staples Business Depot have the option of receiving an autograph from an Olympic athlete, but last Saturday, as part of the company's Give a Dollar. Share a Dream fundraising campaign, they had the option of getting three.

Special Olympians Kenny Atlin, Garry Chaplin and Teresa Roberts were busy signing autographs and greeting customers from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. as the campaign entered its final week.

'Give a dollar, share a dream is more than asking for a dollar at the cashier,' said Serge Michaud, executive director of Special Olympics Yukon. 'It's about having our athletes first and foremost in the front and knowing that people can see who and why they are giving to Special Olympics. It is pretty hard to support something if you don't know what you are supporting.'

All three athletes live in Whitehorse and have had a great deal of success at their individual sports. Atlin was a member of Team Yukon's Soccer Team, which won a bronze medal at the 2006 Canada Summer Games held in Brandon, Manitoba. Chaplin was a member of Team Canada's Nordic Skiing Team and brought home gold, silver and bronze medals at the 2005 Special Olympics World Games held in Nagano, Japan. Roberts got a roaring ovation when she figure skated in front of a hometown crowd during completion at the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

The Give a Dollar, Share a Dream campaign is an annual event held at all Staples Business Depot stores across Canada. This year the fundraiser will run from Nov. 1-17 and all proceeds will be donated to the Special Olympics.

Customers at the checkout will be asked if they would like to add a donation of any amount to their purchase, which will go toward supporting the fundraiser.

Last year, the Staples branch in Whitehorse raised just over $5,000. This year the store's goal is to reach $6,000. All proceeds raised from the store in Whitehorse will go toward supporting programs and initiatives run by Special Olympics Yukon, which has more than 30 coaches and offers sport programs to more than 80 athletes.

Some of the initiatives that Special Olympics Yukon offers to its athletes include the community-based program, which provides training and financial assistance in eight sports. Among the sports are curling, aquatics, soccer and cross country skiing.

Another important project run by the organization is the school-based program. The school-based program was created in joint co-operation with resource rooms in Yukon schools and it allows athletes or potential athletes the opportunity to become more physically active through programs put on by the resource rooms.

The money raised from the campaign also helps fund travel and completion costs and provides the necessary equipment needed to compete at an event.

Last year, Staples raised over $500,000 dollars for the fundraiser, which was an all-time record.

'Our customers have given so generously over the past seven years of the campaign,' said store general manager, Chris Nagy in a press release. 'Last year's campaign raised an incredible $527,202 for Special Olympics Canada and with the help of all our customers we look forward to raising even more money this year.'

Michaud said it is the increased awareness that has allowed for the continued success of the campaign.

'I think more and more people in Canada and more specifically Yukon, since this store opened in 2003 really get behind our Special Olympics athletes,' he said. 'They know we do a lot of good in the community and our athletes train and compete in the sports that they love and so, just like their own daughter or son that does not have an intellectual disability, they are giving the opportunity for someone who does to compete and train in sport.'

He said the community support in Whitehorse is great.

'It is always difficult to raise money, but this community does such a great job in supporting their own and our athletes are their own,' Michaud said. 'They just get behind our athletes.'

Michaud said the partnership with Staples is important.

'For us as an organization here in the Yukon having a partner like Staples is nothing short of fantastic,' he said. 'This is the 11th year of this relationship and the money raised will help us send our athletes off to national games in Quebec City in February as well as well as any other program support that we need to offer them.'

Special Olympics Yukon is sending four athletes in total to the National Winter Games this February. Two will compete in figure skating and two more will compete in cross country skiing. The event will play as a qualifier for the 2009 Special Olympics Winter Games in Idaho.