Terps Team Up with Special Olympics for Relay Across America
5/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Share The Shell
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland Athletics Department participated in the Special Olympics Relay Across America as the Flame of Hope made its way through the DMV region on Tuesday.
The Maryland Athletics team, which was comprised of 13 members including head coaches Mark Turgeon (men's basketball) and Kerry McCoy (wrestling), and student-athletes Lou Mascola (wrestling), Amber Melville (women's track & field), Thea LaFond (women's track & field), and Hailey Murray (volleyball), carried the torch around Fraternity Row before passing it to David Mitchell, Chief of Police at the University of Maryland, and his team.
“We are very excited to have the University of Maryland, the athletic department and the College Park community participate in the Unified Relay Across America,” said Jim Schmutz, president and CEO, Special Olympics Maryland. “The support from the community, the coaches and administration reinforces the value of sports in our community and is very important to our Special Olympic athletes.”
From May 26 to July 10, communities are taking part in the Unified Relay Across America presented by Bank of America, an event that seeks to unify the nation as it delivers the Flame of Hope to Los Angeles for the Special Olympics World Games.
“This is indescribable,” said senior track & field student-athlete Amber Melville, who also shared that her mother has been a long-time volunteer working with the Special Olympics. “I really enjoyed this experience. To be part of this run and help out kids, with my teammates, our coaches and members of the athletics department is very special.”
“I have worked with Special Olympics in the past and it is a tremendous organization,” head men's basketball coach Mark Turgeon said. “It is great for our College Park community to come out and gather together to participate in this special event.”
Funds raised from the Unified Relay Across America presented by Bank of America will go to Special Olympics to provide sports training, competition opportunities and additional programming that empowers people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities.
This July, Special Olympics will hold its flagship event, the World Summer Games. This marquee event transcends the boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age and culture, and will unify the world for the largest sporting and humanitarian event on the planet in 2015. Beginning on July 25, 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing 177 countries, along with 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators, will come together in Los Angeles for competition in 25 Olympic-style sports. Tune into ESPN on July 25th to watch the Opening Ceremonies.
