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Pictures from the 2009 J L Cassidy Heartland Games
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Special
Olympics: Life-changing
With "The Ringer," Bobby and Peter Farrelly's latest comedy, hitting theaters December 23,
audiences will enjoy the humor often seen in Farrelly brothers' movies. More importantly, they will see how Special Olympics
changed one man's life. It's a story carried out every day in Missouri on and off the playing fields for the athletes and
volunteers of Special Olympics.
While Special Olympics empowers individuals with mental disabilities to become better
physically fit through sports training and competition, Special Olympics is more than just sports. Special Olympics enriches
the lives of athletes in countless ways. That's because Special Olympic athletes find friends that last a lifetime, have
achievements that make them proud and find a community that embraces them. Succeeding in sports and finding a place to call
their own enable Special Olympic athletes to grow physically, socially and emotionally.
For volunteers and coaches
within Special Olympics, the lines of difference blur and commonalities shine through, leading to a greater understanding
and acceptance. Perception and respect extend beyond people with mental disabilities and are critical in the diverse world
in which we live. It can't be learned in the classroom or boardroom, only through personal interactions and long-lasting
friendships trough the bonds that Special Olympics participants form.
In Missouri, more than 14,000 Special Olympics
athletes train and compete in 19 sports year-round ranging from track and field to bowling, with the help of more than 17,000
volunteers. I've seen scores of lives changed through the Special Olympics experience. It's a sight worth seeing and an
experience worth living.
Mark Musso, Jefferson City Missouri President, Special Olympics (copied from
the Editorial Section of the Post Dispatch)
"Go for the Gold, we keep telling our athletes. But it is the volunteers
in Special Olympics who walk away with the gold, richer for the experience."
Contact The Gateway Disabled Ski Program
at gdspstlouis@yahoo.com
636-938-6478
Volunteer and Support Special Olympics
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