Special Olympics, UIW athletes pair up in ‘Amazing Race’

By Gabby Yanez LOGOS STAFF WRITER

Several University of the Incarnate Word organizations teamed up with the Special Olympics Club on Friday, March 31, in “The Amazing Race for H.O.P.E.” competition to raise money and awareness.

Schools from all over San Antonio took part in the challenge to see who could raise the most money. Each school had two weeks to raise funds for their sponsored athletes and team. At the event, Special Olympics athletes were paired with UIW students in several athletic events. Every team followed clues to several activity stations around campus that were set up and hosted by volunteers from UIW athletic teams, clubs, and organizations. Participants received tickets for completed activities that they used to enter into a drawing for a grand prize.

Planners said winning is not the goal of the event, but rather to raise money for a good cause and create a sense of support from the community for the Special Olympic athletes.

UIW first participated in this activity for Special Olympics in 2021 with the help of Dr. Tracie C. Edmond, an accounting professor in the HEB School of Business and Administration, and her non-profit organization, Cavalry.

UIW’s Special Olympics is a key driver for the event now. The club has two co-founding advisers: Dr. Stephanie Grote-Garcia, a professor in the Dreeben School of Edu¬cation, and Dr. Emily Dow, an assistant pro¬fessor of kinesiology in the Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions.

“The mission behind (the event) is to create inclusion and to have a unified day for those with or without disabilities to engage in an activity that they all can participate in,” Dow said.