Special Olympics GB Athlete Leaders Katie Day and Angus Leckonby have recently returned from the trip of a lifetime at the Dreamride Experience in the US.

Staged in August, the Dream Ride Experience is a major annual car and motorbike celebration, which Special Olympics GB Athlete Leaders have attended since 2022.

The adventure began for Katie and Angus in Boston, where they were welcomed by their hosts and enjoyed a Duck Tour of the city and a memorable Harbour Dinner Cruise.

From there, they travelled to New York City, visiting the Bronx Zoo, taking in a Broadway performance of Aladdin, and watching the New York Yankees take on the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in Major League Baseball (MLB).

They then headed to Farmington, Connecticut, the home of the Dream Ride Experience. Katie and Angus took part in the opening ceremony alongside other international Special Olympics athletes whose trips were supported by the Hometown Foundation. Both also enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime ‘Dream Cruise’ in a Bentley.

However, the trip was not only about fun and adventure — it was also about leadership and personal growth. Both athletes gained new skills, built lasting friendships, and represented Special Olympics GB with pride on the international stage.

“It was my first trip to the US and my first time abroad with Special Olympics GB outside of a major sporting event,” said Katie, who was Chair of the Athlete Leadership Team in 2023 and 2024.
“It was the trip of a lifetime to see so much of America, and I’ve gained so much confidence as a result of being in such different environments.”

For Angus, who earlier this year broke two Guinness World Records at the TCS London Marathon and will attempt another later this month at Swim Serpentine, it was his first trip abroad without family.

“I absolutely loved my time in America,” he said. “I’ve always loved opportunities to meet new people, and getting to do this overseas with Special Olympics GB has been fantastic.”

Dream Ride 2025 raised more than $7 million for the Hometown Foundation, which funded the experience for 500 athletes from around the world.

Special Olympics GB would like to thank the Hometown Foundation, which has enabled seven Athlete Leaders from Great Britain to attend the Dream Ride Experience since 2022.