Dip, dive, dodge, duck, and donate. Regina Dominican and Notre Dame High School partnered up on Friday, February 6 to host the second annual dodgeball tournament.

There were a total of ten grade school teams and sixteen high school teams represented from all over Chicago. Niamh Ryan ’15 took on a leadership role in planning this event as president of Ambassador’s Club.

“We raised over $800 dollars and donated everything to the Special Olympics. It was a very fun and successful night,” said Ryan.

This event almost double in participation from the previous year. Most grade school teams joined along with high school teams. This exciting increase gives hope to another successful event next year.

The Special Olympics began in the late 1950s when President John F. Kennedy’s sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver took action against how unjustly people with disabilities were treated. She held a day camp in her own backyard, teaching people with disabilities how to swim as well as hosting other activities.

The first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held on July 19-20, 1968 at Soldier Field in Chicago. 1,000 people with disabilities competed from Canada and the United States. Only two events were offered: swimming and track and field.

Now, the Special Olympics is a global event, with over 4.5 million athletes from around the world participating, and offering over 32 Olympic style summer and winter sports.

According to the Special Olympics website, “the mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community”

The Special Olympics has positively changed the lives of many families. These games are meant to show people with disabilities what they can do instead of what they can’t do. It gives athletes confidence and teaches them life lessons.

“I was both honored and excited to be a part of such an amazing organization,” said Ryan.

The dodgeball tournament was a huge success and Regina is looking to expand it even further next year. If you were unable to attend the dodgeball tournament and would like to donate to this wonderful cause please see the link below:

http://www.specialolympics.org/donate-to-charity.aspx

Remember, “If you’re going to become true dodgeballers, then you’ve got to learn the five d’s of dodgeball: dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge” and donate!