Navarre High hosts Sports Ability Games
BY BETTY ARCHER ALLEN Gulf Breeze News betty@gulfbreezenews.com

Betty Archer Allen/Gulf Breeze News A marine places a medal around the neck of the Special Ability student at the end of the games.

Approximately 300 students participated in Special Sports Ability games on Friday March 30th. These children have many forms of disabilities and are all physically disabled in some way. In spite of their disabilities they face the challenge with excitement and enthusiasm.

Students came from schools all over Santa Rosa County and three schools from Escambia County to denonstrate their hard earned skills. Special ability sports is sponsored by The Optimist Club in Gulf Breeze. Each year the Club donates at least $2,000 for this annual event. This event is not funded by the county but School Boards of Education do provide the teachers and the busses used to transport the students to and from the games.

There are seven Adaptive Physical education teachers in Santa Rosa County: Daisy Eddins, Mark Gough, Stephen Cone, Jason Sasser, Tami Grimstead, Astley Blackwell and Jim Ogden, who was the SAG Chairman.

Jim has a bachelors in Physical Education and a masters in Business and has served 24 years in the United States Navy. He has been an Adaptive Physical Education Teacher in for five years and serves Woodlawn, Oriole Beach and Gulf Breeze Elementary, Middle and High Schools for five years.

Betty Archer Allen/Gulf Breeze News Peggy Gallagher, Kay Roth, Alice Louise Crawley, Alma Dearth (holding the paper) and Jane Parker (painting the student's face) are working in the Face Painting booth set up by the Home Life Department of SRWC.

Jim and his team are ably assisted by members of the Marine Aviation Training Squadron 21 (MATSG-21) stationed at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. This year 19 Marines showed up to help. They assisted the kids in running in each race and led the last race called the Victory Lap where the Marines lead the way and all the special abilities athletes run down the field to the finish line. Then the Marines presented each participant with a victory medal.

Two departments of the Santa Rosa Woman's Club (SRWC) were very much on hand to assist in the Sports Ability program. The Education Department supported the games by staffing the concession and served over 300 meals to the students and sold hot dogs, chips, candy, cookies, fruit, sandwiches and drinks to teachers, and guests of the students and of course, the Marines came in to help with anything left over.

Betty Archer Allen/Gulf Breeze News The Education Department of the SRWC, Marion Ginn, Sherry McReynolds, Wendy Brandon, Shirley Gaddis, Shari Fulford, Rose Jenkins and Pat Warsnop are working the Concession Stand at the Special Ability Sports games.

The department was led by Shari Fulford with members Rose Jenkins, Wendy Brandon, Sherry McReynolds, Marion Ginn, and Pat Worsnop. Even Shirley Gaddis, SRWC president, got into the act. Food for the students was provided but proceeds from items sold to guest helped to support the games.

The Home Life Department led by Peggy Gallagher and members. Jane Parker, Kay Roth, Alice Louise Crawley, Alma Dearth, and Lolly Sandfort provided face painting for the game participants. The student would choose the design and the SRWC members would do the painting. The Face painting was so popular that the members worked from 10 am to 1pm without a break.

Teachers, students, marines, family and volunteers all participate in some way. Teachers and marines run with the participants and families cheer the students on and are there waiting for them when they cross the finish line and Clubs provide the necessary staffing tor food and entertainment.

They are all valuable natural resources available to Special sports ability programs. Family members make energetic and enthusiastic goodwill ambassadors because they know first-hand the benefits and joys of being part of Special Ability Games.