TRIB TOTAL MEDIA SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2019 · 11
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
KAREN PRICE | FOR TRIB TOTAL MEDIA
Stephen Wood prepares for his throw during the softball toss event at the Westmoreland County Special
Olympics track-and-field day at Norwin High School on May 4.
stay in your room, stay in your
house.’ They learned to be part
of society, and that was Eunice’s
purpose for the program.”
Jeff Claney was just 3 years
old when his father started Special
Olympics, and he grew up
volunteering.
Longtime volunteer Bill Ivory
got involved years ago after his
sister asked him to help out
with an event. Not only did
his kids then get involved, but
they’re all also still involved to
this day helping out at the state
games.
“The key is once you come
to an evert, you’re hooked. The
kids hook you.” Ivory said.
As the younger Claney and
Ivory reminisced on the field at
Norwin, their memories soon
turned to Brian Downey. Doctors
said he would never walk,
Claney explained, but through
the swimming and track-andfield
programs, he became the
face of Special Olympics for
years.
Downey, of Unity Township,
became a Global Messenger for
the program and won both gold
and silver medals in cross-country
skiing at the International
Special Olympics before passing
away in 2006 at the age of 37.
Ivory and Jeff Claney agreed
that as important as it is for the
athletes to have Special Olympics
in order to gain self-confidence,
experience feelings of
achievement and have a social
outlet, it’s important for other
members of the community, as
well.
“There are a lot of people
who come their first time (to
volunteer) thinking, ‘I’m going
to help them,’ and they leave
thinking, ‘Wow, I was impacted
way more than they were,’” Jeff
Claney said. “That happens all
the time. Things like compassion
and understanding and
acceptance, that’s what they
teach us.”
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