By Shoshannah Childs
CP Reporter
“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” This is the oath that every Special Olympics athletes holds true. On April 28, Caroline County Public Schools hosted the 4th Annual Special Olympics “Meet in the Middle.” The event features athletes, student buddies, volunteers and school staff worked together to create an atmosphere where student athletes got to shine in various outdoor athletic events.
“We just get more and more involvement. People love it,” exclaimed Lori Wallace, coordinator of the “Meet in the Middle Event.
This year’s event had over 75 athletes and numerous volunteers in the form of teachers, students, administrators, officials from the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office and Caroline’s Fire and EMS.
“Anybody can really volunteer. What we do through the schools, is we start planning in the fall and if they’re interested they can contact the special education office. We like more community involvement. It would be great,” Wallace expressed.
The event has witnessed great growth since its beginning four years ago. Initially, Caroline athletes participated in athletic events at James River High School in Chesterfield, Virginia.
“Cathy Gregory was the Special Education Director. Instead of sending the group over there that year, she said why don’t we do it ourselves,” stated Wallace. She continued by explaining how she collaborated with Jim Garrett, Rappahannock Region Director for Special Olympics of Virginia in bringing the event to Caroline County.
“I love having my students. My first year was when it was at James River. I think it’s awesome that we brought it up here. It makes it easier,” Megan Seigfried, Bowling Green Elementary Special Education teacher expressed.
This year’s event was dedicated to Garrett who was not able to attend due to health reasons.
“We are thinking about him and wish him well,” expressed Jason Mack, Assistant Principal of Caroline Middle School and Master of Ceremonies for the “Meet in the Middle” event.
This event, that was once housed in the Caroline Middle School gymnasium, has grown to a rotation of activities such as relays and a javelin toss all across the football field and track of Caroline High School.
On this particular day, the sun was shining brightly but it was the smiles of the athletes and volunteers that lit up the day. All across the track and field, cheers and claps of jubilation rung out.
“[I volunteered] just to make people feel included. Obviously, we have regular sports and its sort of harder for them to participate in those, but with this they can feel like they can do anything,” student volunteer, Kayla Epperson stated.
“I love working with kids, especially ones that need this. That needs the extra encouragement,” Victoria Gross, student volunteer exclaimed.
The Special Olympics of Virginia websites points out that there are nearly a quarter of a million people in Virginia with intellectual disabilities and about 8 million without. Their goal is to reach out to every last one by placing greater emphasis on uniting youth with and without disabilities. “Meet in the Middle” is an example of one of those events that helps the Special Olympics of Virginia reach this goal.
“Special Olympics has three core values. They are respect, inclusion and unity. We’re working with over 425 schools in Virginia to promote more respectful school environments, to have these great inclusive events where we can bring students with and without intellectual disabilities together and to promote the next unified generation,” Val Reinford, Vice President of Local Program Services for the Special Olympics of Virginia expressed.
“Meet in the Middle” was not only success in bringing all the schools together in the district along with community leaders, but to bring together those with and without intellectual disabilities to leading the way to bring true the goal and mission of the Special Olympics of Virginia.
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