By Bill Quain
I’m writing this column on Sunday, April 28. I had a great experience this morning that I would like to share with my readers. I met some volunteers who were setting up for a Special Olympics meet, which was being held at the Ocean City High School track. As I sit here now in my office, I can hear them making announcements for the day.
Let’s take a quick history lesson
Before I share how I met the volunteers, let’s take a quick look at the origins of this fabulous organization. The Special Olympics was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Eunice Kennedy Shriver was John F. Kennedy’s sister. Her husband, Sargent Shriver, was a prominent Democratic politician who ran for President in the 1970s. For her work in founding and promoting the Special Olympics, Eunice was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President Ronald Regan in 1984. This is the highest civilian honor in the United States.
I checked out the “About” section of www.specialolympics.org, and found the following words: “We are helping to make the world a better, healthier and more joyful place, one athlete, one volunteer, one family member at a time.”
Today, the organization has 3,914,758 athletes and unified partners worldwide; 46,028 competitions; 672,114 volunteers; 330,898 coaches; 4,166 athlete health screenings; and 18,350 unified schools. I’ll bet you did not know that! I sure didn’t! The volunteers I met this morning were working on just one of the competitions that will be held this year, culminating in the national Special Olympics.
Special Olympics has a special mission
Within the Special Olympics mission statement are these words: “…for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”
Wow! This is a fantastic organization! Do you know what? I could feel the reach and depth of this organization when I met the volunteers this morning.
These volunteers made my morning special
Here’s what happened: I was out early this morning, doing a seven-mile run. I usually run with either a human guide or my guide dog, Trudy. However, if I get out early enough, I have just enough eyesight left to run on the Ocean City High School track. I can’t see in front of me, but I can look down, and manage to stay in between the lines – usually in lane number two.
As I rounded the turn and headed down the stretch that goes in front of the Ocean City High School home stands, I heard voices. (No, not those voices!) It was a little after 7 a.m., and a group of volunteers was on the track. They were excited for the day. I stopped and asked if they were going to have an event on the track. A woman came up to me and told me that they were there to set up for a Special Olympics meet.
I thanked the woman and said that I would stop running on the track (even though I had 2 miles left to go) because I didn’t want to run into anyone. “That’s no problem,” the woman said. “The competition doesn’t start for another hour, and we’d be happy to keep an eye out for you. You won’t be in our way.”
Wow! This was great! You see, I’ve had to leave that track a number of times, and I don’t mind doing it. Sometimes there will be a sporting event or a gym class, or in the summertime, some type of camp. A fully-sighted runner could probably stay on the track and dodge or run around other people. For me, the chance just isn’t worth it. I would hate to hurt someone. But here were these generous people, and they told me they would watch out for me.
Readers, in the 49 weeks since I started writing my column for Shore Local, I’ve learned to keep my ears open for inspiration for my next column. So, as I did my final 2 miles on the track, I had the opportunity to reflect on the wonderful work that the Special Olympics does. I couldn’t wait to get home to begin writing this column.
Everyone’s special at the Special Olympics
I always knew that the participating athletes were special, but this morning I discovered just how special the volunteers could be as well. I thought about all the cheering families, so proud of their children and family members. Plus, since today’s competition was just one of over 40,000 Special Olympics meets, I was truly inspired! Imagine those numbers! So many athletes, so many volunteers, and so much joy in sharing.
Now it’s your time to share
Do you have a special or inspirational story? Share it with us! Send me an email at bill@quain.com. Learn more about my story, including my speaking and writing, at www.billquain.com. As I say each week, “I’ll see ya in the papers!”
Bill is a Professor in Stockton University’s Hospitality Management Program. He is the author of 27 books, and a highly-respected speaker. Even though he is almost totally blind, Bill is a long-distance runner and runs the Ocean City Half Marathon each year. He lives in Ocean City with his wife Jeanne, and his Guide Dog Trudy. Visit www.billquain.com or email him at bill@quain.com.
