By Jack Carrerow, Staff Writer
Although it doesn’t receive the pomp and ceremony of the upcoming Summer Olympics, to the athletes who compete in the Special Olympics, it’s the most important thing they’ll do in their lives.
Friday, the Special Olympics torch passed through Reedsport on its way to Hillsboro during the Law Enforcement Torch Run, an annual event that helps raise funds for the program, which allows 50 Special Olympic athletes on the South Coast to compete against more than 1,000 athletes statewide at Hillsboro Stadium.
“We haven’t counted it all up, but it looks like we raised about $700,” South Coast Special Olympics Coordinator Judy Macho said. “One big difference is the help of the U.S. Coast Guard Stations.”
USCG Petty Officer Matt Baker is one of the coaches for the team. He said he’s having a fun and rewarding time.
“It’s a great thing to do for the athletes and for the community,” Baker said, while taking a breather from the run Friday. “I really like making a difference and they, in turn, help me be a better person.”
Baker said he’s also proud of the way the Coast Guard has gotten behind the program.
“Every station between Newport and Brookings sent people out to lend a hand,” Baker said. “That’s a lot of people and it really shows the commitment the Coasties have to Special Olympics.”
While the various police and fire departments on the coast supplied escort service for the runners who participated, Macho said several citizens also helped out.
“There were several who ran along with several of the athletes who will be competing over the weekend,” she said.
Local resident and former Special Olympian Skip Barrone, in his wheelchair, accompanied by his mom Elene, helped carry the torch through town.
Skip Barrone’s father, Jim, was a local supporter of youth sports. Skip has taken up where his father left off, attending almost all the games and meets in town.
“I think it’s neat,” said Barrone, who was a longtime competitor and has remained connected with Special Olympics for the past 40 years.
“He was born and raised here,” Elene said. “He’s been with the program so long, he’s become sort of a local icon.”
Running with Barrone was his 13-year-old niece, Micah Lowery, a student at Highland Elementary School.
“This is fun and I think it’s a great cause,” she said.
Macho said she gets the same reaction from volunteers every year.
“People really find it rewarding once they spend the time with the athletes,” Macho said. “I love it, because I know it’s making them happy and I get to spend a whole weekend awarding medals to some very special and unique people.”
This year’s opening ceremonies on Friday also featured the awarding of the Ken Davis Unsung Hero Award to Macho for her more than 20 years of work with the Special Olympics Program.
“When you do something that’s this much fun and so gratifying, the time really flies by,” Macho said. “It really doesn’t seem that long.”
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