The Special Olympics allows children with special needs to showcase their abilities and to excel. It's a wonderful experience that both participants and audience never forget. Marion County's 40th Annual Special Olympics Games is coming up later this month, and they need you.
According to this press release, at least 500 high school and community volunteers are needed to make this a success. Area high school students will be paired with the athletes participating, to cheer them on and encourage them to do their best.
Community volunteers can serve in many roles, including parade line-up partners, catchers, measurers, ball retrievers, timers, recorders and award presenters, along with many others. It is important to keep in mind that due to direct student contact, you must be pre-registered with the school district. If you do not currently volunteer with the schools, you will need to undergo a background check, so get in touch soon to allow enough time for that to be done before the Olympics.
Opening day is Wednesday, Feb. 22nd at 10:45am. Games continue on Tuesday, Feb. 28th and Wednesday, Feb. 29th. Each days games are from 10:45am to 1pm. All Special Olympics games are being held in Forest High School's football stadium, located at 5000 SE Maricamp Rd. in Ocala.
There will be about 450 school based athletes participating in this exciting event. Elementary students will compete on Feb. 22nd. Middle school and Hillcrest students will compete on Feb. 28th, and high school and more Hillcrest students will compete on Feb. 29th.
We've been enjoying beautiful weather, and hopefully that will continue right through the Special Olympics Games, but if not, they do have rain dates already set. If it rains on Feb. 22nd, the games will take place on Feb. 24th. If it rains on Feb. 28th, it will be moved to March 1st, and Feb. 29th will be moved to March 2nd.
Lynn Brantley is the Special Olympics Coordinator for Marion County. She has been in charge of making the Special Olympics the great event they are for the last 31 years, and was inducted into the Special Olympics Hall of Fame last year, according to this article in the Ocala Star Banner from AugustMario 2011.
If you would like more information, or you want to volunteer, you'll need to get in touch with Lynn Brantley. You can reach her at 352-671-1434, or email her at Lynn.Brantley@marion.k12.fl.us.
This is sure to be a fun event, and very rewarding to those who help out. Won't you do your part?
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