After finding out they had just won a silver medal in Unified Doubles at the 2017 Special Olympics National Bowling Tournament in Las Vegas, Special Olympian Sam Glessner hugs his doubles partner Cindy Denney. (Unified events team a Special Olympian with a parent or a volunteer.) Thirty-eight years ago, Denney, director of marketing at Jay County REMC, started volunteering with Special Olympics as a “hugger” at the finish line of races. She’s been volunteering as a coach, serving as a treasurer and fundraiser and anything else ever since ... and still is giving and receiving hugs. P HO TO P ROV ID E D B Y J AY C OU N T Y S P E C IA L OLY MP IC S
Then, with an OK from David’s doctor, Tim began working with David on stretching and weightlifting. That regimen has
Special Olympics at a GLANCE
Based in Indianapolis, Special
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Olympics Indiana coordinates all aspects of the program in the state. In addition to conducting a
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schedule of annual competition
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events throughout the year, the
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state office manages fundraising, public relations, coaches’
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training, volunteer registration,
general administration.
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the 10 area and 71 county programs, outreach and
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PARTICIPATION To be eligible to compete in Special Olympics, an individual must be 8 years of age or older AND have
made all the difference in David’s physical abilities. For the past
been identified by an agency or professional as having
five years, he’s been competing and excelling in powerlifting.
an intellectual disability or closely related developmental
“It doesn’t come over night. It’s been a long road. A lot of hours,” Tim said, reflecting on the strides his son has made. “There are times you just think, ‘Should I keep pushing? Should I give him a break?’ But then I see the results and where he’s
disability. For those under age 8, the Unified Champion Schools program is available. SUPPORT
at today. He’s working on his own now. He’s going to the USA
Special Olympics Indiana is a nonprofit organization and
games. He’s got friends on Facebook.”
receives no federal or state funds, and relies entirely on
One of his Facebook friends is a weightlifter from Tennessee, a college student with cerebral palsy. While this young man has no intellectual disability, he has almost no use of his legs. “His strength was all upper body,” Tim said. “Now, he’s seen David lifting with cerebral palsy, and he said, ‘Man, if he can do that, I can do that.’ And now, he is beginning to.” The Milan miracle story of David Paul is every bit as much a story of a father’s love, dedication and advocacy for his son. It’s also a story of how Special Olympics has been there for 50 years to provide inspiration, a sense of purpose, and an unwavering international family of support for individuals much of society once brushed aside. “Special Olympics is a wonderful organization. We just needed a platform to touch other lives. That’s our goal,” said Tim. “I know how hard it is when someone tells you your kid has cerebral palsy. I want those other families to see what David’s done. He was in that same boat that they are now in. We just say, ‘Hey, there is hope.’” Tim said there are days he wonders where David would be if
corporate, civic and individual donations. EVENTS THIS MONTH • 2018 Special Olympics USA Games will be held in Seattle, July 1-6. Some 3,500 athletes from across the United States will compete in 14 sports. Team Indiana will consist of 78 members (40 athletes, 14 Unified partners, 15 coaches and nine support staff). • Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Celebration will be held in Chicago, July 17-21, at various venues. Five decades after the spark that became today’s Special Olympics movement was ignited at the first 1968 International Summer Games in Chicago, a year-long global anniversary celebration begins. Most events are free. For a schedule and information, visit: https://www.specialolympics.org/50th.aspx. TO LEARN MORE OR MAKE A DONATION Contact Special Olympics Indiana at: 317-328-2000 or
not for Special Olympics. “As a dad, I would’ve worked with him
800-742-0612; or visit its website: SOIndiana.org.
as best I could, but I don’t think we’d be where we’re at today.”
To learn more about Special Olympics in general,
RICHARD G. BIEVER is senior editor of Electric Consumer. For a longer version of this story along with more details about David Paul’s personal journey, please visit our website.
please visit SpecialOlympics.org.
JULY 2018
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