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Fauquier High School will host the Special Olympics April 25
There's something special about Special Olympics.
"It's amazing to see [children with special needs] trying as hard as they can," declared Jerry Cogley, father and board member of the Special Olympics Area Council.
On April 25, approximately 40 students will convene at Fauquier High School track from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to compete in the 50-yard dash, 100-yard dash, softball throw and the standing broad jump.
Cogley's daughter, Heather, has been participating in the event for 10 years. Winning gold medals for various state competitions, the 19 year old with Down's Syndrome loves swimming (freestyle and backstroke), track and field, and bowling, with her dad as her coach.
He finds her participation "gave her a chance to be 'out and about' and around other kids. It built her self-esteem."
Depending on the sport, Heather practices almost all year. She said her favorite sport is swimming freestyle because "it gets momentum, speed and distance." Her dad laughed and chimed in, "It's because it's the one she does the best."
After Heather graduates this year, her parents still plan on helping with Special Olympics.
Cogley said, in the past, "we had plenty of people to volunteer, and more are welcome. Many hands make light work."
Five students in Highland School's leadership class plan to volunteer. Choosing to be volunteers at the Special Olympics is part of the Highland students' practical experience.
Senior Haley Fitzgerald said the group is looking forward to learning about people with different needs. "We are all interested in helping out."
She and her peers will take on the roles of "buddies," making sure that the participants get to their events. Other volunteers will help with timing races and measuring broad jumps, as well as helping with concessions, registration, and awards.
The Highland students have already increased their normal rate of volunteers from 15 to 30, mostly through school newspaper ads, bulletin board exhibits and their popular Facebook group.
With their Facebook exposure, the Highland students have received more volunteer requests from students in other nearby schools. Fitzgerald plans to put a volunteer registration form on the social network.
Various school sports teams also plan to be out in full force —and their jerseys — at the special event.
Briggita Obrecht, another local parent, seems happy that so many people are interested in Special Olympics. New to the local board, she has also involved her own son, Chris, in the athletic activities for almost 10 years.
Chris, 24, is the state champion in the basketball event, which includes hoop throwing and fast dribbling. His mother said the Special Olympics experiences “has opened him to be more willing to try things and given him new friendships.”
Fitzgerald said, "[The volunteers and participants] both learn from each other. We see them get help with their motor skills and accomplish something, knowing that [we] have helped that happen."
Cogley agrees. Both the volunteers and the participants seem to have a great time. "It's so cool just to be around them," said Cogley. "They root for each other. Wouldn't it be a great place if everyone treated each other that way?"
E-mail the reporter: afelts@timespapers.com.
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