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Local Athletes Return Home from Special Olympics World Games

Thanks to Special Olympics Virginia athlete Rose Pleskow for sharing her monthly blog post at Perfect Sense.

Every year there are hundreds of volunteers and athletes who contribute to Special Olympics Virginia in so many ways. Picking a few volunteers and athletes each year to recognize as outstanding representatives of the program is a difficult task. Each of these individuals has stood out in their areas of contribution to the programs and to the health, community, sports and education pillars on which we base our focus and strategic goals. Thank you to everyone who nominated volunteers and athletes for recognition and congratulations to our exceptional winners!

Roanoke’s Tyler Caldwell continues to light the way down the path of inclusion with his latest honor, the Dan Piper Award.

“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.” – Jennifer Lee

This past Sunday, we honored Special Olympics Virginia coach Sarah Pettrone, who passed away two summers ago at age 38 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Special Olympics Unified Sports® proves that, as youth come together on the field to play, they also come together as friends.

In April, May and June, hundreds of school-age athletes participate in Little Feet Meets, Meet in the Middle events and Big Feet Meets across Virginia. These Project UNIFY® events are a way for schools to engage students with and without intellectual disabilities during a training season and culminating “Feet Meet.” Students without disabilities can practice and compete with their team, as well as act as meet facilitators and fans.

Imagine a partnership between Special Olympics and high schools throughout Virginia. Imagine the opportunity for a student with an intellectual (or any) disability to play alongside his or her peers without disabilities in a Unified Sports team environment; to rely on each other, to communicate with each other, to believe in each other, to become Champions Together.