Special Olympics Founder’s Day in Sandakan
SANDAKAN: More than 100 persons attended the Founder’s Day celebrations organised by Special Olympics Sandakan (SOS) at the Dewan Warga Tua here last Saturday.
Special Olympics Founder’s Day falls on July 20 to commemorate the efforts of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of former US President John F. Kennedy, and her pioneering work to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.
“We were pleased to see so many parents of our special athletes at the function,” said SOS vice chairperson Maria Julianna Chang during her welcoming address.
She also thanked all the guests, teachers, coaches and representatives from PDK Beluran, PDK Kinabatangan, PDK Gum Gum, PDK Indah Jaya, Agape Centre, Cheshire Home, EIC, PPKI SMK Muhibbah Sandakan, PPKI SK Gas, PPKI Sg Anib III and all those involved in the Special Olympics programmes and projects.
Special Olympics Sabah was represented by Ngo York Kong (Treasurer & Sponsorship/Fund Raising cum Public Relations Director) and Lam Saw Yin (Secretary).
The function was held to create awareness of the objectives of SOS as well as develop and strengthen ties among the families of athletes and all the volunteers and supporters involved in the numerous SOS projects and programmes.
Among the activities during the function was a “gotong-royong” to prepare meals, a slide show on SOS projects/achievements and numerous games like musical chairs.
At the function, the presence of the two Special Olympics World Winter Games gold cum bronze medallists, Noraini Binti Zakaria and Norysuhadatul Aulia Saidina Maarufi, boosted the spirit of all the special athletes and their families.
“The wonderful gathering to celebrate Founder’s Day was also a great occasion for us to make it a Family Day for SOS whereby our special athletes and their respective families and all those involved in SOS were given the opportunity to get to know each other better,” said Taren Sunil, chairman of Special Olympics Sandakan.
He thanked his committee and volunteers who helped successfully organise the function.