She said:
“He’s done this since he was five, but it still gives me goose bumps and I tear up, it never gets old.”
An opening ceremony takes place to open the event, with teams parading around the track at Oak Ridge High School. Local banner printing companies would have been busy as each participating group carried a banner representing their team, including the Conroe Stars from Conroe, Texas. Other teams carrying Banners included the Coldspring Trojans, the Woodlands Shooting Stars and Huntsville Hornets.
According to Royce Brooks, the president of Kiwanis International who sponsored the event, the experience is inspiring while being an emotional day. He also pointed out that the coaches undergo intensive training to assist with the athletes, with a large number volunteering for many years. The area director for the Special Olympics, Rachell Baldwin said that the age range of athletes was 18 to 80 years old, with participation based on ability. The winners of the Special Olympics will take part in the State Games, which will be held at the University of Texas, Arlington in May. Baldwin started out as a volunteer for the Special Olympics while at high school, to find herself as area director today.
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