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by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson

Smiles were contagious at Biddle Field April 12 during the 2012 Area M Local Special Olympics Track and Field Meet. Hosted by Dickinson and presented by the Mechanicsburg Area School District, the meet drew 365 Special Olympians from six regional school districts and two private schools and hundreds of student-athlete volunteers.

Students from every Dickinson team pitched in to assist the athletes, said Women鈥檚 Basketball Coach Dina Henry, who worked with Assistant Swimming Coach Kellie Ayers to organize the Division III Week event. 鈥淲e asked them to dedicate any out-of-class time that they could,鈥� she said.

Micah Smith 鈥�15, a member of the men鈥檚 , was one of them. 鈥淭hese kids are working hard and trying their best, and they don鈥檛 have all of the opportunities most of us have,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it鈥檚 important to support them.鈥�

The Special Olympians competed in shot put and wheelchair shot put; high and long jumps; walks, runs and dashes; a softball throw; and a 鈥渢urbo-javelin鈥� match; they also enjoyed music and noncompetitive activities such as a ring toss, dancing, face painting and crafts.

The top-scoring athletes will advance to next week鈥檚 regional games at Messiah College. But there were hundreds of additional winners there, said Lynda Haser, an autism support aide who turned out to cheer on her students from Cumberland Valley鈥檚 Good Hope School. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great for the kids鈥攖hey all find so much joy in this鈥攂ut it鈥檚 also great for the volunteers, teachers and aides,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen you see the ecstasy on some of the kids鈥� faces, it brings a tear to your eye. It reminds you of what sporting events are supposed to be like and shows you what鈥檚 important in life.鈥�

Published May 2, 2012