Written By: Amanda Church Strike or Spare that is what most people say with such excitement when people go bowling. Sara Lynn is Special Olympics Massachusetts athlete from Living Independently Forever Inc.  Cape Cod (LIFE) who participated in bowling for the very first time this year; but that is not all that Sara did. Sara was one of 25 LIFE bowlers to qualify for the Traditional Bowling State Tournament, where she played three games, bowled two strikes, and took home the Gold Medal. That is such a huge accomplishment. When asked why she likes bowling, Sara said, “I love bowling…

Author: Ali Phaneuf You’ll never guess how athletes like Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Steve McLendon, Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, and English professional soccer player Rio Ferdinand perfected their footwork. When they weren’t training with their teams, you might have been able to find them practicing their dance skills. Why? Here are the top health benefits for athletes that practice dance: Improve coordination Improve balance Improve memory Improve cardiovascular health Improve flexibility And just like these professional athletes improved their minds and bodies through dance, so can our Special Olympics athletes. In fact, just four years ago Amanda Santos saw…

Author: Ali Phaneuf When Special Olympics cheerleaders stepped onto the field during the last local flag football game of the season at Worcester State University, they were met with a wave of support from football players, coaches, families, and friends. After four weeks of practice, the eight athletes performed a routine that held two separate cheers and brand new skills. The dedication and hard work of three sophomore students at Worcester State University (Chanelle LaBossiere, Kelsey Houle, and Iza Julie Marques) made this program possible. “Because of the pandemic last year, we weren’t really able to get involved in…

Meet the top fundraiser from the past few years of the Peabody Holiday Torch Run. Jeremy “Jay” Carlo has been actively involved in the Special Olympics for three and a half decades.  He began in Worcester at age 10, competing in Track and Field events like the softball throw and running events but it was when, as a student at the Mercy Center, he joined the Special Olympics basketball team and his love of the Special Olympics blossomed.  Being a part of a team, practicing and competing together, is where Jay’s spirit shines brightest.  He loves cheering teammates on…

Thrive Support & Advocacy empowers more than 500 children and adults in the Metrowest area with developmental disabilities to lead rich, active, and self-directed lives. With more than 75 Thrive athletes participating in sports throughout the year, Special Olympics is a vital aspect of that empowerment. Through Special Olympics Massachusetts events and competitions, Thrivers demonstrate to themselves and the community that when the focus is on ability, you can do great things. For Thriver and athlete Matthew McCarthy, participating in Special Olympics has given him opportunities he could never have imagined. “The sports that I participate in through Thrive…

We are lucky at Special Olympics Massachusetts. So many great people. So many great communities. Our Greater Lawrence Basketball League in one such example. This league has all the key ingredients of an inclusive and amazing Special Olympics Community: Great athletes, incredible volunteer coaches, an engaged school-based host group (Brooks School in North Andover) and of course… the only unified slam-dunk contest in the world! Brooks School student-athlete Ethan Gabert-Doyon made this video highlighting all the action!