Special Olympics Michigan

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State Soccer & Cycling Finals October 16 & 17 in Warren

October 8, 2009
State Soccer and Cycling Finals Coming Up
The leaves are turning colors and the weather is beginning to cool down. It’s that time of year again. Not only is it fall, it’s also time for Special Olympics Michigan’s (SOMI) State Soccer and Cycling finals! This year’s competition is set to take place on Friday Oct. 16 and Saturday Oct. 17, 2009 in Warren, Mich. at Halmich Park and General Motors Tech Center. MORE

The DALMAC Fund Helps Special Olympics Michigan Cyclists
Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) received a $10,000 grant from The DALMAC Fund to help out with the Special Olympics Michigan 2009 cycling program. The DALMAC Fund is supported by proceeds from the annual Dick Allen Lansing to Mackinaw bicycle tour (DALMAC) and is administered by the Tri-County Bicycle Association of Lansing, Michigan. The DALMAC Fund was established in 1975. For over 30 years The DALMAC Fund has been helping out numerous charitable organizations and SOMI is thrilled to have received this generous donation. The grant money will help athletes who take part in Area cycling programs and the State Cycling Finals on Oct. 18 in Warren, Mich. MORE

An Event That Raised Weights, Funds and Awareness!

A crowd watches the Lift for Atheltes fundraiser at Grand Traverse Mall on October 3, 2009

Lift for Athletes was a display of strength, determination and heart. The fundraiser took place Saturday, October 3 at Grand Traverse Mall in Traverse City. Participants competed by age and gender to try to bench press the greatest percentage of their body weight in three different attempts. A HUGE thank you to Jeff & Vern Gauthier, co-owners of Fit For You Health Club for making Special Olympics Michigan their charity of choice for their 11th annual fundraiser. MORE

Special Olympics Michigan Mobile Sale Contest
Forward Corp. is holding a contest for their employees in an effort to raise money that benefits Special Olympics Michigan athletes. The money will help local communities get their special athletes to State Games. Participation in these games builds pride, self-respect and a sense of accomplishment. MORE

Athlete Spotlight: Carla McNerney
Carla McNerney, 53, of Mount Pleasant, Mich. is anything but an average individual. McNerney is one of four athletes who will be on a panel for the Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) presentation entitled, “Spread the Word to end the ‘R’ word,” as part of Central Michigan University’s (CMU) Disability Awareness Month. The event takes places on Monday, Oct. 12, 2009 at 7 p.m. at Plachta Auditorium on CMU’s campus. McNerney has been participating in SOMI sporting events and competitions for more than 30 years. She has also been volunteering with SOMI in Mount Pleasant for the past 14 years. McNerney is also an inspiration off the sports field. She battled cancer a few years ago and is now cancer free.

Special Olympics Michigan Area 7 athlete Carla McNerney.

McNerney spoke highly of her experiences in SOMI saying, “It helped me make a lot of friends.” McNerney has had such a positive experience, that’s part of the reason she gives so much time back and volunteers so much. “I like to participate in the games one year and then volunteer and help out the next,” said McNerney. She later added, “I actually like to volunteer more than I like to compete.” McNerney has been avid about speaking up publicly against the use of the “R” word in different public settings. Two summers ago, she boycotted the movie “Tropic Thunder” for its offensive language toward people with intellectual disabilities.

Touch a Heart with Touchdowns! Help Make a Very Special Athlete's Dream Come True.
Support the athletes of Special Olympics Michigan by pledging dollars for every touchdown the Lion's score this season.

Touch A Heart With Touchdowns is a fundraising program reliant on the generosity of Lions fans by tying the amount of their donations directly to the number of touchdowns the Lions score in a single season. PLEDGE ONLINE

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