News Release
Lake City Challenge Day encourages movement
through competition for athletes with severe and profound disabilities
For
Immediate Release
Contact:
Kathy Irving, Director of Special Programs, 515-418-2284
Who:
80 Special Olympics Iowa athletes with the most severe and profound physical
and intellectual disabilities participating in various sports with the
assistance of close to 150 volunteers. Most volunteers are family members of
the athletes and various individuals from the Carroll and Lake City communities
including American Home Shield and UPS. The Iowa West Foundation sponsors
this event.
What:
Challenge Day is a one-day event designed for adults and children with
severe and profound intellectual and physical disabilities. Challenge Days
consist of various activities in which participants may take part as a team or
individually in sports such as: ball darts, balloon volleyball, dice bowling,
ramp bowling, wheelchair basketball and many other activities, some with the
aid of switch activated equipment.
When:
9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Saturday, June 13
Where:
Opportunity Living in Lake City
Background:
Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) is hosting a Challenge Day at Opportunity
Living on Saturday, June 13 from 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m., marking the seventh year
for the event to be held in Lake City. Every other year, the event is held in
Carroll, a neighboring community.
“This is a very
unique and important day for athletes,” said SOIA Director of Special Programs,
Kathy Irving. “The SOIA Challenge Days provide some of the only opportunities
these athletes have to compete in sports activities.”
Special
Olympics Iowa, a statewide nonprofit organization, has provided sports training
and competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities since
1968. In 2008, 11,350 athletes and Unified Sports Partners participated
in Special Olympics Iowa events and competitions. For more information,
call 515-986-5520 or visit www.soiowa.org.
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