Volunteers needed for Special Olympics

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kirsten Wicker
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  More than 2,000 athletes from across the state will gather here and at Fort Lewis May 30 through June 1 for the Washington Special Olympic Summer Games.

For the 18th consecutive year, McChord will host the opening ceremony, as well as the victory dance and victory happenings.

The athletic events such as gymnastics, power lifting, soccer, team handball and track and field will take place on Fort Lewis, while the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way will host the swimming events. New to McChord this year is the addition of the cycling event.

"This will be the first year McChord has hosted an athletic event," said 1st Lieutenant Burgess Gow, 62nd Maintenance Squadron, cycling event coordinator. "Due to construction on Fort Lewis, the event will be held on McChord's Lima pad."

This event will require an enormous volunteer response, said Master Sgt. Robert Erickson, 62nd Airlift Wing project officer.

"This is one of the most important volunteer opportunities we have at McChord," he said. "Volunteering makes events like this possible and helps give these kids the chance to develop socially and physically, but more importantly, gives them a chance to live a normal life."

After putting up the initial call for volunteers, there is still a need for more, said Staff Sgt. Amy Weger, 62nd Operations Support Squadron.

"We need approximately 350 volunteers to make this event successful," Sergeant Erickson said. "We are expecting as many as 5,000 visitors to McChord; this is a rewarding opportunity to participate in."

Volunteers will help set up the hangars for the victory dance and victory happening, help out with the activities during those events and help tear down when the event is over.

"All military personnel, DOD civilians, or dependant and retired ID card holders can help," Sergeant Weger said.

Volunteers will be needed to start setting up for the event on May 29; hanging up flags and sponsor banners and laying out cones, stanchions and metal fencing around the
base.

For more information on the games, visit http://www.sowa.org. To sign up to volunteer, contact Sergeant Erickson at 982-3289.