Kentwood High cheerleaders showed they support all athletes during the Washington state Special Olympics Summer Games held June 3-5 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
The cheer squad sent 50 volunteers, including adult leaders, to help in a variety of ways in the athletics competition, wrote Athletics Venue Volunteer Coordinator Marilyn Schunke in an email.
Schunke explained in her email that “Athletics Venue covers traditional track events, as well as walking, assisted walking, and wheelchair events, including wheelchair obstacle courses. The field events include standing long jump, running long jump, high jump, shot put, plus softball and tennis ball throw.”
The girls worked at the event on June 4 in a number of areas, Schunke said, as they organized athletes into their heats and marshaled them to the start line or field event, umpired track events, bagged and gophered personal items athletes couldn’t wear during competition, and post race staging where they greeted athletes at the finish line, offered water when an event was complete, returned personal items to athletes, organized and directed athletes to awards ceremonies.
Schunke, who has served as the athletics venue volunteer manager for five years, said she was impressed with the Kentwood cheerleaders who volunteered.
“These girls gave up a sunny Saturday morning to come with smiles on their faces and full of energy to help the Special Olympians have a successful Summer Games,” Schunke wrote. “As the Athletics Venue Volunteer Manager I would like to publicly thank them and recognize them for giving back to their community in such a positive way. They are a great group of girls and parents. We are already working with their event coordinator, Stefanie Chase, to have them return next year as all-day volunteers.”
Anyone interested in volunteering at the Summer Games in 2012 can mark their calendars for the weekend following Memorial Day.
Those who want to organize a group of volunteers from their service organizations or companies for next year, they can contact Schunke at 253-638-6273.
